Letshuoer (Shuoer) - S08

letshuoer s08, warm bassy darker signature

ew200 is quite a bright signature. if you like that then i'd go for a more traditional planar like s12 which will give you some of the most detial and separation in the price s08 is great but could also sound way too mellow in the treble if you liked ew200

He could always go for the S08, can be found for cheaper and are not that much different

Been using the letshuoer S08 for 10 days so far, for gaming and listening a bit of everything with them, they've been working great, I'd recommend them I've done 3-4h long sessions with them without issue Try AliExpress If you can't find them artti T10 are also a great budget option, something else I would look at are the kefine Delci

I have all three IEMs, the Kefine Klean is good for $49 and if you change the stock cable it improves the bass and treble becoming warmer if using the Nicehck GTC5 cable. The Lesthouer S08 is a very good warm planar IEM I think is a really good option with the 25% discounts on Amazon US it comes out at around $66, but check the forums on Amazon it says frequently returned there are users who report problems with the right earbud, I have not had any problems, they sound very different from the Kefine Klean, the sound is somewhat dark with soft and detailed but not extended treble. The best for my personal taste is the Aful Explorer but it is the most expensive $119.99, it has a very organic warm sound, with good bass and detailed and sweet mids with a narrow but very musical presentation and the treble is somewhat attenuated with a certain level of detail. Any of these IEMs are wonderful but if you have the money go for the Aful Explorer if you like the warm signature and good musical representation.

I've tried several IEMs under the $100 range, the Lesthouer S08, Kefine Delci AE, Kefine Klean, Sivga Que, Simgot EW300, Isn Audio H20, and Turthear Zero Red. All of these IEMs are excellent for the price paid, and the ones I liked the most are the Lesthouer S08, Kefine Delci AE, and Sivga Que. https://preview.redd.it/86zc1z7oabtf1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=397875ebb7606dfc6e3d1de604e148efbf11c483

I compared a bunch of IEMs at audio shops. While I don't remember which IEMs sounded brighter to me, I can recommend the Letshuoer S8 for its clarity and balance of bass and treble. I listen to a lot of EDM and pop (US, K-pop, J-Pop, Eastern European, Latin/Spanish), and one of the things I compared was the, for lack of a better term, drop in Zedd's Spectrum ("we'll RUN where lights won't chase us"). The S08s had that IT factor in Spectrum, and the sounds did not bleed together. I found it was similar to the Simgot EW300, but I chose the S08 because it wasn't as bass heavy, felt more balanced, and I presumed I wouldn't be as fatigued listening to them. That being said, I do not like my music too bright. I think the S12 might have been brighter than the S08, but I felt the S08 had a crisp, clear sound that accentuated what I was looking for. I'm told my preference is V-shaped.

Im waiting for the Supermix 4 to arrive but the Letshuoer S08 I already have and its amazing. You should get the S08, and then you can also pick up another cheaper set with it like Simgot EW300 or Kefine Klean if you use coupons on either Aliexpress or Linsoul.

I currently own the FH3, which was my first IEM bought around 3 years ago. Recently gotten back into this hobby with Simgot EW300 and Letshuoer S08 in my collection. So I can only give you my experience with these 3 To me the FH3 sounds neutral-ish with slight bass boost. It can rumble sure, but you need a really good seal to notice them. Mid bass is slightly lacking the thump. Vocals are fairly forward and balanced. Treble is toned down making it not that sparkly. For accessories it comes packed with eartips so you can find your ideal fit. The pouch is decent and cable is nice but I wished it had a 4.4 option because when I swapped them to one, I can hear the details slightly better and soundstage opens up a little. One thing that stood out is definitely the fit. They are really comfortable! Passive noise isolation isn't as great (but so as the other two). Not to say the EW300 and S08 isn't comfortable, but I can listen with FH3 for a longer period without soreing my ear canals. Probably because they have smaller nozzle? Compare to my other two IEMs. To me EW300 and S08 sounds wayyy better. EW300 has better clarity and sounds more exciting. Some sibilance and female vocals can be a bit shouty (adding a foam to the silver nozzle really helps with the issue). S08 sounds warmer, treble is laid back but since the detail retrieval is so good I can still hear micro details unlike FH3 (had to really focus to hear them) All these are bassy according to many reviews, though not to basshead level. But I definitely prefer the slam on the newer models. TLDR: The newer models sounds "clearer" and has better bass Hope this helps! ☺️

I agree. Ive tried s08 and aether and some other with microplanars like simgot ew300 or kiwi ears canta and i have returned them all. But the PRX was a very nice surprise. Just a little bit bright in the upper frequencies but it smooths over time. I put a cotton mesh infront of the noozle filter and tames the upper treble a bit. No doubt its a better tuning than aether or s08 which sounds muddy in comparison in the mid lows

Letshuoer S12 but it is a little bright, but it is very fun! Letshuoer S08 for warmer tuning

I remember your first post. I commented on it because we got these the same day. I agree with review, I’m still really loving mine. It’s crazy how much of a difference tips make on these. I’m not a huge bass head, so I use tri clarion tips and with these they are very nicely balanced with good space in the treble region while maintaining a great bass presence. With some narrow bore tips however, they can be bass monsters. I also agree with you on the insertion depth. It takes them from sounding nice to being transported. Lol I was happy to see your update. This is my favorite set I’ve tried and I don’t hear about it much.

I just picked up the S08 a few weeks ago and think they are very good for the money. I heard them at CanJam London last year and actually preferred them over the S12 as they were more to my preference the S12 while definitely having more detail just a bit too bright for me.

Yep the Letshuoer S08 might be what you’re looking for. It comes with a selectable 4.4 or 3.5 terminations .

So I got the Letshuoer S08 based on the many recommendations on this sub, but I find them to be extremely uncomfortable for longer sessions (1h+). So while they sound good, there's still a case to be made for comfortable over-head headphones

I don’t listen to metal, so I don’t know personally, but I’ve noticed a lot of folks on here seem to recommend warmer, bassier tuned IEMs like the Letshuoer S08 for metal.

NiceHCK F1 Pro and ARTTI T10. Have also tried KZ PRX, Letshuoer S08, and Kiwi Ears Aether.

Letshuoer S08. Be sure they have enough power (i.e. KA11 dongle vs the Apple version) and ear tips that play to your preferred sound profile—meaning if you want more bass, go with narrow bore. More treble? Wider bore tips open them up quite a bit.

It’ll depend a lot on the things you like in your music. The DaVinci and DosCinco are more forward with female vocals than the Performer 7 or the S08. S08 is a bit more forward than the P7. P7 is the most neutral of the bunch. Best bass is going to depend on what you’re specifically looking for. Sub bass rumble is probably best on the DosCinco, while the S08 has my favorite mid-bass punch. The DaVinci is nice, but can be a bit soft. The P7 sounds amazingly tight and accurate, but is lacking in intensity compared to the other three, which are much bassier. Cymbals your thing? The Performer 7 is airy and detailed and wonderful. The DaVinci is a close 2nd, but isn’t as smooth as the P7. I would say, if you want dynamic sound that makes those genres sound as exciting as possible, try and get the DosCinco on sale. It’s probably the best fit for Hip/Hop-Rap and Metal overall. The Performer 7 might be too neutral for your tastes, but it’s in my opinion, probably the most detailed and resolving of the bunch. The S08 is great as well, and might be the best value overall, but if you have the budget for the DosCinco and the DaVinci, then I would go for one of those. I personally prefer the DosCinco over the DaVinci, especially on sale. But if you’re sensitive to pressure issues or driver flex, I encountered driver flex on the DosCinco, but not on the DaVinci.

Using the Letshuoer S08 and I love it. Previously tried Simgot EW300 and Simgot supermix 4. Found the Simgot EW300 was too heavy for my ears and that the Simgot Supermix 4 was too bulky to have a nice fit.

for me it was KBEAR KS1. in 2021, i don't know much about iems. as long as they had huge bass, i'll stick. not using it anymore, i've sold it to my friend. now i'm using letshuoer s08. https://preview.redd.it/tibtk32g61se1.png?width=1079&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a5461213b9e0d9cec486d023ba09dca97e73e30

For your preferred music genres, you will prefer the S08 most, out of the list you provided Some alternatives to consider, Kefine Delci or Delci AE, Tangzu FuDu, AFUL Explorer, Artti T10 Pro, or the KiwiEars Airoso.

I don't think your ears like anything with the JM-1 style tuning. Ib would look at the S08, the Explorer, the Defiant, hell, even something like the old Ziigaat Cinno might be up your ally. Lush, as recommended, is also a good choice. It does follow the JM1 curve, but the pina gain is pushed a little higher in the frequency range, which can make it have a little less feeling of ear gain and fatigue overall. But, at twice the price of the Hexa, it might be a bit out of your price range.

I bought the S08 they're pretty good all rounder, got a pretty good deal from the letshuoer website (compared to AliExpres and so on). Though a little more bass would've been nice in my opinion. And the included earbuds were complete garbage, absolutely hated all of them.

Either Letshuoer S08 of ARTTI T10 Pro are great warm planars

Another warm planars are the ARTTI T10 Pro. Both these and the S08 are great options. https://preview.redd.it/vv144wno36qf1.jpeg?width=3695&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2791da1e6c0c0cfc2a51b5a7d9aa00f7dc996919

Full written review of the Letshuoer S08 can be found here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/letshuoer-s08-review/ Letshuoer S08 Review ($99) 13mm Planar Driver Hello everyone, at the link provided is my full written review of the Letshuoer S08 from the audio brand Letshuoer. They are back with another planar magnetic earphone to add to their long line of very successful planar iems for their 8th Anniversary. The S08 comes to market with an MSRP of $99 which is a tough price point for any set to try to make a mark. Thankfully for Letshuoer they have a very successful history with the driver tech and if I'm being completely forthright with you all… The S08 is no different from the others as far as quality is concerned. However, it is tuned a bit differently. More in line with the Letshuoer S15 tuning than it is the Letshuoer S12 series of planars. The S08 is built very well with an all-alloy chassis, it looks unassuming but with a certain sleekness about it. It comes well accessorized with a nice “twist-lock” modular cable etc. and most importantly the S08 sounds good. Like I said, more in line with the musical/organic approach of the S15. This is certainly a musicality first iem. Within the review I did compare the S08 to a couple sets of at least some relevance and I try my best to explain this brand new planar as best I can so to hopefully help you out a little in making a purchasing decision. Please stop by, click the link and check out my review of the Letshuoer S08. Thank you in advance and I hope you all are having a very good weekend. Comparisons: Kiwi Ears Melody / Letshuoer S12 Pro 🔥🎶 S08 Pros 🎸🔥 -Build Quality is great, all alloy -Design isn’t bad either -Very comfortable once sealed well -Accessories are better than I expected -Organic timbre, nicely musical sound -Beefy but well-defined bass region, great for a planar -Nice bass extension -Milky midrange -Nice for vocals (believe it or not) -Non-fatiguing treble -Good extension up top, has some bite 🎧🥶 S08 Cons 🥶🎵 -Bass isn’t a DD bass. Slightly lacks the authentic slam of a DD -Bass may be a hint too much for some hobbyists -Not the most detailed approach -Lacks treble emphasis and brilliance (for some) Full written review of the Letshuoer S08 can be found here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/letshuoer-s08-review/

Haha... Ya one of my analogies that probably only make sense to about 5 people.. Ha. When I say milky, I mean thicker, richer note weight that isn't dry sounding. It's moist in inflections rather than thin and dry. There's some density to notes. The S08 is actually a fantastic sounding planar. Sorry if that makes no sense. Just my way of explaining what I hear.

Ya not everything is for everyone. I also enjoy the T10 and Delci. However, I would take the S08 over both of them. That's how different people are in this hobby man. It's a constant. This is why I try to speak on that point in every review. Anyways, I Def agree that T10 and Delci are phenomenal sets.

Oh yes, the S08 is not as open as the Aria. The Aria has that almost perfect Harman sound. The S08 isn't that at all. It's more rich, deep tight bass, less treble openness but very quick and tight transients. The Aria is more airy, thinner note body, more energetic. So yes those two are worlds apart in how they sound. Some things take some brain-burn in this hobby. Also, what dac/amp are you using?

Do they NEED an amp? No. Do they scale well and sound better with power? 100%. However, you don't necessarily need an amp to power this set. As far as gaming, depending on your PC it may offer plenty of power for the S08 for that purpose. I haven't tried it to verify that though.

This is 100% accurate. The tuning is very special. Smooth like butter and yes, no sibilance at all. About as clean as warm can sound under $150

I'm very sorry, I just saw this. For me I think the S08 has a very nice rumble. Especially for a planar iem. In fact, in many ways Letshuoer bucked the planar trend by coming out with planars which sound remarkably similar to dynamic drivers in timbre but the speed of a balanced armature. Their S15 is what started that. The S08 fell right in step. Truly an awesome sounding set which easily competes with more expensive sets. Very musical, rich in note weight. I feel that for metal you'll be hard pressed to find many better sets under $100. In my opinion. There's a few others which do very well though. Now, between the S08 and the Aful Explorer I'd say the Explorer is also a richer note weight. Has a bit more behind the sub-level rumble than the S08, but very very similar in almost all regards to the S08. The S08 has a touch quicker transients in the bass region. But they are very similar. Both warm, bit have awesome bass, both won't cause your ears fatigue from too much brightness.

The Apple dongle will get the S08 to halfway decent volumes, but it doesn't really drive this set unfortunately. The S08 is a planar and while planar magnetic drivers have become easier to drive and much more sensitive, they still desire power. The more the merrier too. I suggest a decent Dongle Dac with at least 100mw @32 ohms. Most dongle dacs under $60 will provide you with much more then that anymore. However, you may love the sound out of the Apple dongle. I simply found the Apple dongle doesn't really bring out the true dynamics of the S08. I can't remember if I added that into my review or not? Anyways, I would try to invest in a slightly more powerful dongle dac, if you can. You can find stellar dongle dacs for very cheap anymore.

Totally agree, the stage isn't the most vast. Granted, I really don't feel it needs to be super collosal in size. About average (ballpark) per iems at its price point I'd say. Still, the upsides of this iem are many. I can't sing it's praises enough

For me S08 is fantastic, I have the PRX to compare and this one I can listen for hours without getting fatigue. It's just amazing

It's fuller compared to the PRX but I feel the PRX is a bit more detailed overall, and yes, the S08 is way easier to drive than the PRX. I usually listen at around 60/150 on my old S10+ I use as a dap rn but the PRX is more on the 110-120/150 side to have at least some nice volume. The PRX has an edge in detail compared to the S08 but sometimes it can be fatiguing. I think there's something up in the 10khz+ frequencies that's making the PRX fatiguing

Might be a bit pricey but Letshuoer S08 or Aful Explorer are probably what you're looking for

Yeah, you can check [here ](https://breampike.squig.link/?share=Letshuoer_s08_stock,AFUL_Explorer) how they compare to each other. I own the S08 and they're awesome but haven't tried the explorer to be unbiased or have a full opinion on both. From what I know these two are the most likely to match the description you gave

personally I would go for either the quintet or s12 pro. reason : the supermix 4 and quintet are quite similar. the quintet has the better tuning for my taste. The nozzle of the blessing is too big at 6,5mm . The s12 pro is a Planar (takes eq well and Crin has it in his measurements. Easy EQ with squiglink). wouldn't spend the 45 bucks extra for the heyday. can't comment on the P1 max or Myer CKLVX Edit: I somehow missed your text (only saw the pic). If you are treble sensible, I wouldn't go for the quintet or s12 pro. the CKLVX seems the most reasonable to me. Another Option would be the Letshuoer S08 has a a smoother treble and a pretty comfortable shell/nozzle.

me too but Unfortunately it didn't fit my ears.

The best deal you can get now from Aliexpress Letshuoer S08 with an additional M05 cable worth 30$ you can buy all that for 75$ I was enjoying my delci after the arrival of letshuoer S08 I felt it was a great upgrade to delci best bass and clarity

Juzear is out of the discussion for QC.. they have had major issues, dunno if they have been resolved, EW300, T10, S08 are all good.. id honestly prob go w/ the EW300 just based on the fact its more versatile imo, fits more genres.. t10 is an amazing planar imo > S08.. but im also an S15 fanboy because for a planar its soooooo silky smooth and just works with everything.

this is basically the only correct option because its both ergonomic and not disgustingly bright

I bought Letshuoer S08 about a week ago. It’s my first IEM ever, so nothing to compare it to, but I really loved the sound and build quality. I guess it’s the best option for you budget in terms of technical specs

I have the s08 and the s12 pro. I like the s12 pro, they sound very similar to the 7hz Timeless, and the Timeless are one of my favorite headphones of all the ones I own. I haven’t heard the MP145, but they are supposed to be incredible if they fit. The normal T10 is an amazing value. I’m not sure how good the T10 Pro are, but if you want value, the T10 is the way.

S08 is not the iem for gaming. It's gonna smooth critical game details out.

as my 1st IEM, Xuan nv or may because they are good all rounders & safe choice. S08 is good, but it's dark. And ew300 or artti t10 are also solid picks, but u might find them bright. Hexa is clinical, u might either love for their details or might hate them as they are unexciting.

That's the first I've heard anyone say that. They certainly aren't lacking in bass. It's not the absolute best quality bass around that price, but it's pretty good. The chances are anyone complaining about a lack of bass isn't getting a proper seal. They're still by second favourite IEM. I did find them to be very tip-sensitive though and it seems I'm not the only one who has found this. I have about 30 or 40 tips in my collection and out of them, there's only 1 that sounds right. With every other tip the sound a bit wrong in one way or another. With those tips, they are excellent.

While I don't currently commute much, if I'm going somewhere on public transport, I find that I prefer a more v-shaped tuning than usual, with a strong bass especially. I think maybe it helps with background noise, but also in general I prefer a more energetic sort of sound if I'm out and about. My current go-to is the Ikko OH10. I've been looking for an endgame for this use-case and so far, the OH10 is the closest, but not quite perfect. It could do with a couple more dB of bass (without EQ) and a touch less stridency in the treble. I will say though, it's pretty easy to make the OH10 perfect with EQ, it's just something I don't like doing because I'm always listening to different stuff and it's a pain to manage profiles. Plus it encourages never-ending tinkering and tip rolling is bad enough as it is. Some things I was hoping would unseat the OH10 but have not done so include the Aful Explorer and FatFreq Deuce. Some warm/bassy IEMs that I don't like as much for travelling are the QKZ HBB and Letshuoer S08, despite being my #3 and #2 IEMs overall, respectively. The HBB is too laid back. The S08 is let down by its bass, which can be a bit boxy at the best of times, but this gets exaggerated quite a lot when travelling, especially on buses. The Timeless AE is an interesting one in that it sounds perfect for walking around, but as soon as I get on a bus, it suddenly sounds like it has no bass. Been meaning to write a separate post about that one. I think there's something about "planar bass" and acoustic impedance going on there; something to do with the engine noise/vibration from buses. The same thing does not happen with DD bass drivers, regardless of whether they are midbass or subbass focused. I haven't had a chance to compare the Timeless AE, Ikko OH10 and Moondrop Kato on a train, but for a long time the Kato was my go-to for long train journeys. I find the OH10 is a bit ahead of the Kato for bus trips, as it's more v-shaped. I think if I'm going to spend 2-4 hours on a train, I'll still prefer the Kato. I'll also mention my favourite IEM overall which is the Simgot EA1000. It works for everything including travelling, but the Kato and OH10 are both warmer/bassier so those are what I'd normally go to for travelling. If I were travelling, staying hotels, etc., and wanted to take a single IEM for everything, it would be the EA1000.

1. Aful Explorer - Doesn't really have muddled mids like the EW300. It's bassy, but quite clean sounding. The problem it has is that the eargain is very low. So to me, vocals sound recessed, but also sibilant at the same time. How this sounds to you may be dependent on your HRTF as a lot of people seem to like it. It has pretty good treble & resolution too, it's just that one problem that lets it down. 2. Hexa - Is indeed pretty clean sounding, with good treble extension as well. The negatives for me are that the bass isn't great, the treble can be a touch peaky, the soundstage is narrow and the large nozzles make it uncomfortable. 3. S08 - Does not have planar timbre; it's tuned quite differently to other planars. However it also doesn't have quite the same ultra-detailed sound that other planars like the S12 have. It's much darker. I find it very tip-sensitive and it sounds wrong on almost all tips. With the right tip it's got a very intimate sound that is quite bassy, but it's let down a bit by the bass quality, which is a bit boxy. Still my 2nd favourite IEM but only with the right tips. 4. Nova - I haven't heard, but from what I know about it, the nozzles are large and it only sounds good with foam tips. At that point it does rival the Variations for Harman tuning, which is great for female vocals, but the bass tuck can ruin bass guitars etc. 5. Fudu - Honestly just sounds muddy to me, I consider it a downgrade from the QKZ HBB although it does have better build quality. The eartips are good, but it doesn't come with a full set of Divinus Velvet, which if you get them you really should get all 5 sizes. Based on your priorities I'd either go with the Hexa or the Nova depending on what you think about the trade-offs I mentioned. Or maybe consider the Simgot EA500LM - though some find it has too much treble energy; its an unusual tuning that doesn't sound like it graphs. I'd watch the Paul Wasabii review, as I think he captured everything about it more accurately than other reviews. Another one to consider is the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It's tuned a bit like the Hexa, but with stronger sub-bass, a bit more vocal-forwardness (reminds of the HD600 vs HD650) and it rolls off the treble a bit, so it sounds smoother, but possibly less extended. I find it has better soundstage than the Hexa and is much more comfortable. I also find the Kato to be more-or-less a direct upgrade from the Chu 2 and while I haven't heard it, the Aria 2 supposedly sounds almost identical to the Kato. The Dunu Kima 2 apparently sounds very similar too. These are all slightly more v-shaped than the Hexa/Legacy 2, but still a mild v, so there's more bass and the mids sound warmed-up, but not bloated.

\#1 is the Simgot EA1000. Pretty much the opposite sound to the S08. Tips I use on the S08 are Penon Liqueur Orange, but I don't mention it unless asked, in case people think I'm recommending they use the same tip. I'm not. What works in my ear very likely won't work the same in your ear. They're a good tip though and not too expensive, so worth having a set. They tend be be warmer sounding (more bass, slightly less treble). Also good if you have larger ear canals because they lean larger than average and go up to an XL, which is massive. I find tips help with both the bass quality and level on the Hexa. I use Zhulinniao Zhu Rhyme mainly for comfort reasons, but I find they also improve the bass a bit. I can definitely recommend those tips unless you have large ear canals, but if you have large ear canals then the stock tips might be fine anyway. I usually find Feaulle H570 have the best sub-bass extension in a generally neutral tip, and Zhu Rhyme are very similar but shorter/smaller.

Probably the Moondrop Stellaris. Pretty universally panned because it's super bright. In fact I bought it and returned it at launch because it was too bright. But recently, I re-bought it on sale from Amazon UK for just over £50. The price keeps dropping, presumably because all the bad reviews mean nobody is buying them. I wanted to see if I could fix it with tip rolling, and in fact, I found with Dunu Candy tips on it, it's no longer super bright. It actually sounds a lot like the Moondrop LAN tonally, but slightly warmer, with stronger bass and much, much more resolving. The fit is a bit weird and I don't think they'd be comfortable for walking around in, but they're fine for relaxing at home. /u/Bobjonez98 recently released an [April Fools review of these](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdLqjwXG7CA). Omar, I wanted to ask if you or Mrs Amigo have tried Dunu Candy tips on these? She said (and I think you've said the same before) that they are a good specialist set for classical. But I listen to basically everything on mine now. The really clean, linear bass works well for things like synthwave and psytrance, which I listen to a lot of, among other things. It's just a different presentation/emphasis to warmer or darker IEMs. What I don't know is whether that effect is unique to how those tips interact with my own ear canal, or if they help straighten out the FR for everyone. I find that, in general, the Candy tips tend to add a downward tilt to the midrange and roll off some of the very high treble, both of which are things the Stellaris needs. They get rid of that fatiguing, metallic shimmer in the air region, and they even out the 2kHz peak so they don't sound as shouty. I still get a bit of shoutiness, but it's nowhere near as bad as you'd think from the FR graph and in some ways it just adds to the unique tuning of these. It doesn't seem to create timbral issues on vocals, it just tends to push certain notes forward more. Currently, for a relaxing evening listening session, I tend to alternate between these, the Letshuoer S08 and the Ikko OH300, as they are all good, with their own unique presentation. I think at this point, with the right tips, the Stellaris and S08 are my 2 favourite planars.

Hey, I've been wanting to know more about these! The only review I've seen is from [Bangs Audio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3BSsOJZ_g) who really seems to love them. The thing is, I follow him, but I find his takes often disagree with my own, so I wasn't prepared to buy them blind. There are also no measurements on squig.link. Some of my favourite warm/bassy IEMs are: Ikko OH10, Ikko OH300, QKZ HBB, Letshuoer S08. I also have the Moondrop Variations, FatFreq Deuce, KZ Castor Bass. I'm wondering if you have any of these as another baseline for comparison? The EA1000 is my favourite IEM overall. I particularly like the way it does bass, although it's more what I consider neutral bass, despite being technically boosted on a graph. I find that acoustic drums sound extremely realistic on the EA1000, partly because of the way the bass is done but also the balance with the mid & treble harmonics. OTOH, I like the deeper, fuller, Ikko-style bass just for something different, or for electronic music, where the extra sub-bass emphasis works well (the EA1000 rolls it off intentionally to avoid sounding muddy). My #1 and #2 favourite IEMs are the EA1000 and the S08 precisely because they are polar opposites in pretty much every way. The EA1000 has that large, airy soundstage, whereas the S08 is dark and bassy, with a tiny soundstage. Yet the S08 also has really precise and holographic imaging, just compressed into a tight space. The comparison I like to make is if you listen to a live recording on both, with the EA1000 it's like being on stage, standing a few metres from the band. With the S08, it's like being trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the vocalist singing directly into your face. The only downside of the S08 is the bass quality is a bit lacking. It lacks the DD punch in the way planar bass usually does, and at the same time it also lacks some of the bass resolution & texture compared to something like the S12 Pro, and it can sound a bit boxy at times. I'd really like to know where the YU9 sits in relation to these. And if it's more sub-bass oriented, does it suffer from the same Harman midbass tuck as the Variations & Deuce, where bass guitars can sound recessed?

Yeah, the coffee bean isn't worth that sort of money. I think I paid about $12 for mine and consider them "OK" for the price. Certainly not one I'm rushing to recommend to everyone. If you really want one just for the looks or whatever, add it to your wishlist on Aliexpress and look out for it popping up in Super Deals. $12 was after coupons, but those sales are at least once a month anyway. The HBB however punches well above its weight for tuning. You mainly get what you pay for in terms of looks :) I've got mine on $10-a-pair Azla eartips and $60 Hakugei cable. Planning to customise the faceplate eventually. It's my 3rd favourite IEM at any price and probably the one I listen to the most overall. The S08 is maybe creeping up on play time and they have a similar-ish sort of sound, but the S08 is a lot more vocal forward and energetic. The HBB is more laid back, so it's good for background listening. The HBB also has better quality bass in some ways (though the S08 is much more resolving, as you'd expect).

I tried ranking my IEMs a while ago. It gets harder to say after the top 3, but those are: 1. Simgot EA1000 2. Letshuoer S08 3. QKZ HBB Not a lot of correlation between price and ranking. The Variations is my most expensive IEM so far, but it's ranked a lot lower down because of the bass tuck and comfort reasons. It does have the best treble, but the EA1000 is comparatively about 98% - equally resolving, just not quite as smooth. The EA1000 has much more correct-sounding bass. It's only real flaw is the slight cool tilt to the midrange, which I would change if I could, but it also doesn't bother me. Everything else about the EA1000 is basically endgame for me.

I find the S08 to be *extremely* tip sensitive. It didn't sound right to me except with one specific tip. I have about 30 or 40 tips and I tried them all. So I'm normally a bit hesitant to recommend it to people, as there's definitely an element of luck involved when it comes to finding the right tips. If I happened to only own 39 instead of 40 tips, I might have hated it. I do find the bass to be a bit of a weak point on the S08, especially compared to my other planars (Artti T10, S12 Pro, Timeless AE). Tips don't really affect the bass as much as they help fix the eargain region, affecting timbre and especially vocal presentation. They do slightly affect the bass level & extension, but that's all. The bass is a bit boxy and lacking texture, which just seems to be down to the way the driver is tuned/damped. But they have such a unique presentation, that's basically the complete opposite of the EA1000, that I don't mind it much normally. The only thing I do find is that if I'm walking outside or on public transport, I need an IEM with fairly strong & authoritative bass, and the S08 doesn't cut it for that. The HBB is too laid back, so my go-to for now is the Ikko OH10. The way I describe the S08 sound (with the right tips) is this. The EA1000 is bright-leaning and sounds very open and spacious. With a live recording, it sounds like you're on stage, a couple of metres away from the band. The S08 on the other hand sounds like you're trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the drums are echoing off the walls and the vocalist singing directly into your face. Vocal timbre sounds completely correct to me, but that was very much one of the reasons I rejected so many eartips. I suspect the reason some people might say the S08 has a lot of bass is because the tuning is quite dark. So that makes them sound both warm and bassy, since everything is relative. But it's actually less upper mids, rather than more bass. It's definitely a thick, warm, bassy sort of sound, but it doesn't have the same bass separation or the speed/texture as the S12/Timeless-style planars. The planar driver speed is still apparent in some ways, but it's more subtle. The main one I notice is the extremely accurate and holographic layering (despite the very small soundstage). That and occasionally it will resolve small details in a way that makes you go "huh".

I'm one of the people that loves it, but when I mention it, I always point out that it is super tip-sensitive. And in general, I don't recommend it to people, for that reason. There's a thread from a while back with other people discussing this, so it's not just me. I tried literally about 40 different tips on it (I have a lot of tips). And only 1 out of those 40 sounded right. It sounds amazing - and very unique - with those tips, but if I had only owned the other 39 tips, I'd have returned it for sounding incredibly wonky.

Interesting. I find the S08 super tip-sensitive and there's a thread from a while ago with others discussing having the same experience, so I assume that's a tuning issue. When I say those are tip-sensitive, I mean little changes in the FR have a disproportionately big effect. I.e., mess up or fix different elements of the timbre or technicalities, like playing whack-a-mole, rather than something like a complete loss of bass. That's usually a bad seal, so if that happens I just don't use those tips and don't count them. I have seen at least one person complain about the HBB nozzle size, even though the nozzles are very close to exactly average. So I think maybe there's something about the nozzle *angle* that causes them to not sit right in some people's ears, which in turn probably messes with how certain tips are sealing. I ended up putting Azla Xelastecs on my HBBs, purely because I find them super comfortable and they don't break seal if I'm moving around. Normally, those are one of the least neutral-sounding tips, because they boost the upper midrange quite a bit, which can push vocals forward and in some cases make the IEM shouty. But I barely notice any difference on the HBB.

I have about 50 IEMs, so it's a fairly long list. But my current favourites are: 1. Simgot EA1000 2. Letshuoer S08 -- currently tied with Ikko OH300 3. QKZ HBB 4. Moondrop Stellaris -- specifically with Dunu Candy tips^[1] 5. Moondrop Kato -- tied with Ikko OH10 (order changes if I'm inside or outside). 6. Dunu Titan S ^[1] Just because these tips work for me doesn't mean they'll work for anyone else - with other tips these are super bright and fatiguing to listen to.

Haven't heard the Xuan Nv or the May, but understand both to be pretty safe choices. Also the Kefine Delci is around that price if you want something a bit warmer/bassier. Thoughts on the ones I have: * Hexa - Boring neutral isn't for everyone and the nozzles are quite large, so many will find it uncomfortable. There are also better options if you really want a neutral tuning. * S08 - Very good but also very tip-sensitive, so might not work for you. Quite a niche, dark tunning with slightly boxy bass. Sacrifices some of the things planars are normally good at to get rid of planar timbre. Very good imaging, but the soundstage is very small & intimate. Probably not the best all-rounder or first IEM. * EW300 - Pretty safe warm-neutral tuning except for some zingy upper treble that throws everything off (fixable with tips, but you need a tip collection). Big problem is the midrange gets very muddled with busy tracks, so $20 1DD sets will outperform then a lot of the time. Avoid.

I have lots of IEMs and these are my number #3 at any price. I don't EQ them either. Not perfect, but the tuning does one thing really well and is tuned to what the driver is capable of. As an upgrade I'd suggest the Letshuoer S08, which has a similar sort of tuning, but way more technical. The S08 is quite tip sensitive, but I find with the right tips it has extremely holographic imaging. The soundstage is very intimate, but there's a sense of layering you don't get from most IEMs. The main difference in how they present sound is the HBB is quite laid back with slightly distant vocals, whereas the S08 is a bit more energetic (but still a very non-fatiguing tuning) and the vocals are right up in your face. JFTR the S08 is my #2 favourite IEM, just ahead of the HBB. I probably listen to the HBB more overall, because it's my go to if I need to focus on something. The relaxed vocals make it very non-distracting. The S08 forces you to focus on the music a bit more.

I like the S08 a lot, but it's quite tip-sensitive and the bass quality isn't the best for its price. It lacks detail/texture, especially compared to S12-like planars. It's a warm, dark sound with very intimate soundstage. More of a relaxing set than a high-volume, high-energy set. I don't rate the Explorer all that highly because the eargain makes vocals sound veiled, but they are also quite sibilant. That only gets worse with more volume. So far I haven't found any eartips that fix it. Other than that it's really good though and definitely the sort of tuning that would scale well were not for the sibilance, which may not be a problem for some. Haven't heard the Odyssey. I haven't found the perfect set for this purpose yet. The closest I have is the Ikko OH10, which is my main walking-around IEM. It's not perfect though as the treble can be a bit strident (with some sibilance too, though less than the Explorer). It's easily fixed with EQ and it can be fun to stick a 10dB bass shelf on as well, but for the most part I prefer not to EQ, so I'm still looking for something with no flaws. I bought the Explorer hoping that would be it, but was disappointed. I prefer the OH10 because while I do notice the flaws, but they don't bother me as much. On the budget end the QKZ HBB scales really well. The only reason that's not my walking-around IEM instead of the OH10 is for that use-case I prefer a bit more vocal forwardness. The HBB has set-back vocals, but very natural timbre (albeit the overall tuning is definitely warm & bassy, so *everything* sounds a bit warmed-up). The Ikko OH300 is a really nice mid-budget set as well (sometimes goes on sale for around $40 which is a bargain IMO). It's somewhere in between the OH10, HBB and S08. Bass is punchier than the S08, imaging is more holographic than the other two (close to S08 just not quite as sharp), less strident than the OH10 and more vocal-forward than the HBB. It can't compete with higher-end sets on resolution though, that's where it shows it's a budget set. It also can't quite get to the same levels of bass quality as the OH10, which is deep, rounded, punchy and textured all at the same time (with the right tips anyway; it can be a bit slow/muddy with the wrong ones).

It has better treble extension than the Zero 2 and smoother treble than the Zero 1. The bass quality is also pretty good and has an almost planar-like quality to it, but if you compare it with the Artti T10 it's nowhere near as resolving in the bass as the T10. It's definitely an upgrade over the Zeroes, especially in terms of build/comfort and the accessories package. The difference is less noticeable if you're coming from the Chu 2. So around that price if you want a purely technical upgrade, go for the T10 (and make sure you have a reasonably powerful DAC/amp like the JCally JM6 Pro for it to sound at its best). If you want the best tuning, ergonomics, build quality, etc. go for the Delci. If you want both then you're looking around the $100+ level. If you want to try a cheap hybrid, the TRN Shell is very good value for money. I got one in the last sale and it's quite impressive for what I paid for it (around $39). However the tuning is quite v-shaped (in a bad way), so I'm not sure I can outright recommend it. I'm still experimenting with tips to see if I can fix it. I *think* I have, but with a lot of tips there's a very noticeable dip in the midrange. So noticeable that singer will suddenly sound very recessed if they start singing slightly lower notes, in the same song. It's also nowhere near as solid as the Delci, or the Simgot EA500, despite being metal - it's quite cheaply made. It does have some elements of that "what a more expensive IEM sounds like" in case you just want to try something, but don't want to spend too much. It also looks cool, comes with a good cable, a hard case (which I'm on the fence about, but it's much better quality than the QKZ ones) and several tips including a full set of T-Tips. The T10 is the better IEM of the two though. NB: The Shell is maybe a cheaper alternative to the EW300. It has less coherency issues than the EW300, but the EW300 tuning is better. It shares a certain quality in having "relaxed-yet-resolving" sound, where it exaggerates a lot of midrange texture without sounding v-shaped per se (but the Shell *also* sounds v-shaped, it's just a different effect) I also wanted to try one of the cheap KZ hybrids, because the KZ fanboys can't stop saying how great they are. I got the KZ ZS10 Pro X. It's honestly pretty shit. I can't recommend it at all. The treble sounds incredibly shrill. It might be OK for a first IEM or with EQ, but the EDC Pro just sounds better. I did some tip rolling with that and managed to improve it slightly, but I'll need to spend more time listening to it to decide if it has any redeeming qualities, given how cheap it is (but there's no point in wasting money on crap). I think it's just harder to make a good hybrid than a good 1DD, so the cheap ones have a lot of issues. I only have the original Delci and most of the reviews of the AE say that it only has one good nozzle, which is the one that sounds most like the original Delci. Some reviews put the OG flat out ahead for sound. But you're right that the removable nozzle will make future cleaning & maintenance easier.

You can't really judge planars by the S08, because it doesn't really sound much like a planar. It's also very tip-sensitive, so some of the negative you mentioned like not being as resolving as the Delci are probably down to tips. It's a much more capable driver than the Delci, but it can sound pretty wonky with the wrong tips. I have a lot of tips and only found *one* that worked well on them (Penon Liqueur Orange). But those might not work for anyone else, because you need tips that match your own ear anatomy, not mine. The S12 Pro is more representative of the planar sound. As you said, it's a bit bright. Whatever you did to make it muddy, obviously don't do that. It might be a question of just getting used to them for a bit and ultimately they may not be for you. The Artti T10 isn't quite as harsh in the treble, but if you're super sensitive to it, it's probably best to avoid all planars, because they can get a bit hot and less controlled in the upper treble than DDs & hybrids. The S08 and Artti T10 Pro are AFAIK the only planars with that darker tuning, and because of all the added damping, they not longer sound exactly like a planar (but the S08 is very resolving, with exceptional imaging, it's just not as in-your-face with it as the S12). One thing about planars is that they can generally get away with a lot more bass than a DD without sounding muddy, because the driver is very fast so you don't get the same "slow decay" that leads to bass bleed/bloat. That's another reason why the timbre is different and some people don't like it. So usually you can add a bunch of extra bass on a planar without it sounding muddy, even if you're increasing usually-dangerous areas around 300Hz. I think to have get a muddy sound you'd need to have reduced the upper mids a lot.

Interesting about the tips on the HBB. I think that's just not getting a seal from those tips rather than the IEM being tip-sensitive. I find the HBB one of the least tip-sensitive IEMs. When I say something is tip-sensitive I mean that different tips dramatically change the tuning, rather than simply raising or lowering the bass. The S08 just sounds bad on most tips. The Kefine Delci sounds good with most tips, but it massively changes how the tuning presents, from warm, to bright, to v-shaped, etc. Simply not getting the right amount of bass is pretty normal if you don't get a good seal, so there might just be something about how the nozzle ends up sitting in your ear canal. It's worth having some Penon Liqueur Orange around or Render tips, as those will pretty much guarantee a good seal on anything (even if they end up not being the absolute best tips for that particular IEM). I have Azla Xelastecs on my HBB, which is possibly overkill, but it makes them incredibly comfortable and gives a really good seal. The Xelastecs are one of the more coloured-sounding tips (they normally boost the upper mids quite noticeably), but I don't find they change how the HBB sounds at all. I would say between the HBB and the Explorer, the Explorer is the more technically capable IEM by a long way (especially the treble quality/resolution), but the HBB sounds more natural, especially vocal timbre. Both have vocals pushed back, but on the HBB I find the timbre still sounds correct and is never sibilant. On the Explorer, vocals sound a bit veiled/muffled, while at the same time sibilance is strong enough that it jumps out and gets quite annoying on certain tracks. For example one of my test tracks is [Jeff Wayne's The Spirit of Man (from War of the Worlds)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtMKdVOcXZI). Aside from being a great track with nearly every instrument you can think of, it has 3 separate vocal performances each in very different registers. All of them are mixed & mastered with just a touch of sibilance. So if you can't hear any sibilance, it means the IEM is masking it, and if it's strong enough to be annoying you know it's exaggerating it. I tried a lot of tips on the Explorer and some of them improved the vocals in one way or another, but I couldn't get rid of the sibilance. Another one I was using a lot as a test while tip-rolling the Explorer is [Clearest Blue by Chvrches](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZyzX4c1vIs). Could never get the vocals sounding quite right on that either (though they're quite processed to begin with & easily turn nasally or squeaky).

Nice review dude! Def agree o. The t10 pro beating the s08 in technical ability. Always found the bass on s08 boomy personally.

Hey y’all, I got a review copy of the Kiwi Ears Aether in from Linsoul and I wanted to share my thoughts. The Aether has gained a lot of hype since its release, so I was really happy to get the chance to try it out. However I was a bit tempered in my excitement as I absolutely fucking hate single planar driver IEMs. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I hadn’t met a single planer driver IEM yet that competes with any of my other single dynamic or hybrid/tribrid/quadbrid driver configuration sets. The original 7hz Timeless was my first hope but I found the sound thin, V shaped, and fatiguing. The huge 14.5mm driver of the Hidizs MP 145 was another contender, but that harsh V shape destroyed my ears in a way you can’t understand. No nozzle change could tame the planar timbre, that certain “zing” that most single planar driver sets have a lot of trouble shaking. I thought I needed something with a confirmed smooth tuning, so I gave the Letshoure S08 a shot. And sure, it has a lot of low end, but I personally found a lot of boom and not as much texture. Resolution is supposed to be a strength of planar drivers but I found the sound digital and grainy. I tried the Letshoure S12 Pro and its bright tuning had me tearing them out of my ears. Still feeling like I needed to find “my” planar, I demoed a Letshoure S15. The S15 has a more neutral tuning that I thought would be to my liking, but the dreaded hiss of planar timbre and sub-par bass response followed me even to this price range. I liked the S15 at first, but my ears were ringing after 20 minutes of listening, and I found myself giving up on single planar driver IEMs. That is, until the Kiwi Ears Aether came along with its 15.3 mm planar driver, unique design, and pretty faceplate to pique my interest once more. The Kiwi Ears Aether comes with a simple but elegant and functional black cable. Alongside we have hard case and 3 sets of eartips (Bass, Balanced, and Neutral). The simple accessory package is a stable of Kiwi Ears, and I do think that’s an effort to put more attention into the development of the IEMs themselves. The IEMs themselves are fairly large and feel a bit light in the hand. I believe this is partially what leads to the Aether’s ethereal soundstage; the planar driver needs room for its sound to resonate around in the larger space on its way to your ears. This gives us a vast, open soundstage that feels dynamic and lively, not flat like most of the single planar sets I’ve heard to this point. The bass response was the standout improvement over other single planars. Not only was it well resolved, it didn’t have the same unnaturally fast attack and decay that planar sets normally have. It still has a quicker attack and decay than a typical single dynamic set, but not as abrupt and unnatural as many of the planars I’ve tried to this point. Plenty of subbass immersion and midbass kick to satisfy many bassheads. I have a need for natural, lush male vocals, and Aether is the first planar set that’s been able to give that to me. The tuning allows vocals to be forward and present without ever becoming shouty or overbearing. The only con I can give to the sound is the slightly smoothed out treble. While resolution is a strong point for the set, the 6k tuning dip may mask some of a songs microdetails. This is easily mitigated with EQ, but I personally enjoy the smooth sound and don’t feel the need. Finally I have a planar set with a stock tuning that’s well resolved, balanced, and comfortable. Overall I feel like the Aether easily punches above its weight in the world of single planar driver IEMs. It has a smooth, balanced sound that never becomes harsh or fatiguing, even at louder volumes. In fact, the 6k dip allows me to crank the volume a little more. It’s nice to see Kiwi Ears bringing us an innovative product at a relatively modest price when you consider that this is the largest planar driver on the consumer market. I think the hype is real. The size of the driver is doing a lot to kill planar timbre as we know it. For that, I am thankful. And to you as well, thanks for reading.

I'm a beginner and I'm using this list as a guide to compare different sound signatures and different price ranges. Based on it I got Kefine Klean and 7Hz zero 2, then I got Letshouer S08 and Simgot EW 300, finally till now I bought aful explorer. Different sound signatures different price ranges. Very good guide for beginners

I have both. The treble is definitely more pronounced in the Explorer but it’s well managed, without getting sibilant or piercing. I’m treble sensitive and it’s the only IEM I can tolerate where I can actually enjoy the treble. Both are excellent, but the Explorer really does beat the S08.

I’ve been very happy with mine. The bass is very solid with mine from day 1, so I’m surprised to hear of issues with that. With the tamed treble, they come across as fairly warm IEMs. They’re also quite comfortable for their shape. I think Letshuoer did a great job on them, and I happy to have them.

Not dissimilar to the S08. Nice to see another planar with a tamed treble and what should be warmer signature over more typical planars out there. That nozzle size is really small. Not much out there of any style driver at 5.0mm. The S08 has a nozzle size of ~5.4mm but the lip is ~6mm.

I have an S08, and at least the nozzle is short, so with my usual go to Spinfit W1’s, the fit is fine. The shell also looks like it might be uncomfortable, but actually sits quite well with no pressure anywhere. Of course, the cable, while modular, has a funny plasticky feel to it, making yet another stock cable I end up swapping out. I don’t find the tuning wonky, but that may just be brain burn in, so I’m used to it. I have a real problem with sound memory, so switching between IEMs can take 15-20 minutes before I lock onto its actual sound, rather than a weird overlay of the new one over the IEM I had in prior. I’ve gotten used to it, but it means I can’t demo several IEMs in a short period of time. The memory lag creates an audio blur and never seems right to me. I try to buy from places with generous return policies like Amazon US, with its 30 day return policy. I can demo for a week or two, and even make some comparisons. I may pay a bit more, but at least if it turns out to be a bust, I get my full purchase price back, instead of taking a loss on the used market on essentially a brand new IEM.

I’m a big fan of my APP2’s and still use them a lot for out and about and even when having a cable is just inconvenient. Two IEMs I have that I’ll reach for over them are the already mentioned Letshuoer S08, a solid planar with good bass responses and none of the peaky treble you can get with the S12. They also got rid of the planar “veil” and slightly metallic sound common in planars until now, including the S12. Overall a solid, affordable choice that also comes with a nice stock cable, so no need to look for a third party cable off the bat. The other is the Aful Explorer. It’s really a delight, a more open sound than the S08, with a bit more treble but without getting piercing highs or sibilance. It’s a hybrid design with 1 DD and 2 BAs they work some nice magic with blending together with a solid crossover and clever use of internal sound tubes to guide and deliver an even mix. The bass is solid with decent subbass and ear rumble but by no means bass heavy basshead type of response. They’re also very comfortable with a fairly small light resin shell and smallish nozzle, so comfort is ok. It’s also the only IEM I’ve ever bought where the included ear tips work well and didn’t have me immediately swapping out for a third party ear tip. YNMV when it comes to fit, there’s just too much small variations in ear anatomy to make that call across the board.

I have several, but my favorite for just listening is an Aful Explorer. I have a Performer 5+2 that has better technicalities and soundstage, and is brighter than the Explorer, and while it is better for critical listening, the Explorer is just more relaxed for me. The Explorer is just a warm, lush, and relaxed sound. They’re very different IEMs and I like having both to choose from. The Performer is a different beast than the Explorer, not just some step up from it. The Performer is an excellent IEM. I don’t want to leave an impression that it’s not. It’s just a different class of IEM that shouldn’t be compared. I still really like my Letshuoer S08, a planar built and tuned to be warm with a tamed treble. It does not have a typical planar tuning of bright with a planar “veil”, or timbre, or metallic sound some people don’t like. They did a great job getting rid of it. It still has all the other characteristics of a planar with rapid response fast attack and transients, by with a good bass and subbass, albeit with a rapid recovery.

Usually I’d agree with you. I like my $8 Apple dongle. But this is a 2DD isobaric setup with a “bass boost” impedance adapter which I believe is 15ohm. I’ll assume the Deuce itself is 32ohm. So you’re looking at 47ohm impedance. Even with a sensitivity of 105dB Vrms, to get 110dB loudness to allow for headroom, you need 67mW of power. That’s beyond a $10 dongle. As I pointed out, a KA11 dongle can deliver enough power (220mW@32ohm rating, cut it down for the higher impedance it should still suffice), but I bet these are more like easy to drive headphones than sensitive IEMs. And if you’re going for loud basshead, a 30mW dongle won’t do it. You can try, and it depends how loud you like to listen, but the Deuce is more demanding than the average planar driver, certainly with the bass booster they give you, which people overestimate, as I can drive an S08 at comfortable listening levels with a 31mW Apple dongle. But people will insist you need more power, even though if you calculate the requirements based on the specs given, there no need for some 300mW output to listen to an average planar. As I originally posted, I can’t find the actual specs on the Deuce. But I do believe if you throw that impedance adapter in to give you a further boost in the bass, which a basshead will no doubt want to do as it’s the whole point of the IEM, you likely are exceeding what a generic supermarket dongle can provide.

With your description the Explorer fits the bill. Does well at higher volumes, warm, lush, rich, and great for 5-6 hour listening session with no fatigue. Also no discomfort as the shell is nicely shaped and sized with a smaller than average nozzle. The S08 is great, I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. But my go to daily is my Explorer. I don’t have the Odyssey to give you a fair comparison. I do find that I really like my Performer 5+2, which I expected would be my go to, but I still reach for the Explorer for that relaxed feel when I want to cruise away on the music. Yeah, stupid, the 5+2 is a beauty with such solid performance, better technicals, better soundstage, imaging is a little better on the Explorer, but that’s just my ears and likely not to others, still I can’t break my Explorer addiction.

I’m treble sensitive and am very happy with the S08’s. But I’m not a gamer. To the OP, check out FreshReviews on YT. He is a gamer. He also has a wall hack tier rating list you can find a link to in his video descriptions, we can’t link to it from this sub. The S08 rates in the B- tier, still considered ok for gaming and ranks over the S12 pro, a C+ tier. The Aether is in the B+ tier. Do look at the ranking list yourself. There are multiple comments that go with each IEM, so relying on the tier alone shouldn’t be a definitive answer, I gave them just to give you a taste of what you can find, and more important, let you see other options in the ratings that you might want to consider. The ranking list is pretty well regarded among gamers so please check it out.

For a warm IEM with good bass, the S08 is pretty unique. I can’t think of other planars tuned like that, and also doesn’t have that planar “veil”, or metallic sound some folks don’t mike in planars. I think the limited edition S12 2024 was tuned a little closer to the S08 by Letshuoer when that came out, but at over double the price. I can vouch for the S08, and as a treble sensitive person, can use it for hours. There’s enough upper mid to treble extension that female vocals and whatnot sound fine, just without the piercing highs or sibilance that can occur with brighter planars.

Been very happy with the S08.

First, all ChiFi isn’t known for great QC. Generally, and that is generally, something $100 should be built better than a $20 set. But then $100, 200, 300… sets can have isolated failures. Just be aware of that and try to buy from vendors and manufacturers have a reasonable track record of honoring warranties and responded to emails within a week. Best build of what you list is tough as I doubt everyone or anyone owns all four, have it here not ever had problems. Now that every disclaimer has voted you to death I can tell you the S08 is built extremely well. I’ve had zero issues with it for roughly a year, time reasonably close to release in 2024. It has a metal shells and metal shells may have a problem with condensation in humid climates. Despite not having that problem, I still keep a few silica gel packets and change every month or two. It easy, cheap, and can prevent a theoretical problem. Be aware they different than what you list, including the T10 which js tuned differently. . It’s tuned quite warm, but as a planer doesn’t have same decay as a DD, but handles fast beats and attacks really well. Treble is tamed and I get no sibilance or piercing highs, and I’m treble sensitive. They are tip sensitive so might’ve take d little tip rolling to find what’s best for you.

I looked at the T10 as well. Great performance for the price. But I couldn’t get past that look of 20 year old hearing aids. The S08 look very nice, and fit extremely well. Ear anatomy obviously varies, but I just finished a 5 hour listening session and have zero fatigue, and almost more important, zero discomfort. Not all IEMs can accomplish that. I use Spinfit W1’s, but folks have also had good luck with the Penon Liqueur Orange. The cable is also a decent modular cable, so that’s one expense you can avoid on purchase unless you want something really fancy for it.

It’s tuned warm with a tamed treble. It’s rare tuning among planars. It also has no planar “veil” or metallic timbre which bothers some people and is one of the few planars to achieve that. The bass is quite good, but as a planar, has a very quick recovery without the decay associated with DD’s. It can keep up eith a fast beat and has great attack. Vocals are solid, with good extension of female vocals without sibilance. I use it from EDM, trance, psy, house, indie rock, to alternative folk,. So yes, it’s versatile, but lacks upper air, and the bass is strong, but not overpowering and not a basshead set. I don’t know where you live. I’m in the US and will buy from Amazon with a 30 day return policy. I can listen for a week or two and if it just isn’t right for me, return it. I’ve only ever returned one IEM I ever received that went back the same day. Do I pay a bit more? Yes, but on a blind buy, it’s worth it to me. To give you an idea, I have an Explorer, a very warm, lush, and relaxed sound signature. It’s great for long sessions with no fatigue. I also have a Performer 5+2 I use for more critical listening, I also prefer classical on it. I hope that puts it into perspective.

If you like the Explorers you’ll enjoy the S08. They’re a bit uniquely tuned for a planar with a warm signature and tamed bass. It still has all of the advantages in speed, attack, with a rapid roll off signature. It’s also very nicely tuned to get rid of the planar “veil” or metallic sounds many planars have. The mid are a bit recessed but the treble, while tamed, still allow for nice female vocal extension, but without Venus divisor piercing highs. It does fit the Explorer style, although the Explorer does improve on it. So it’s a reasonable choice on sale, I’ve seen it around for $72 on sale. You can go with the more expensive S12 pro or the S12 2024, but they have extended treble, which is great if you like a sparkly, bubbly treble and more air, but I’m treble sensitive and it wouldn’t be a good fit for me. The S12 2024 is supposedly a bit trimmed in the treble and a bit more bass, but I haven’t listened to it. But it’s way more expensive at $200, and I’m not sure it’s worth it, sealift you are treble sensitive.

The Letshuoer S08 really does hit the checkboxes you have for under $100. Thr shell is skid white comfortable, not as small as the Chu 2, but still reasonable for long term (3-4 hour) listening sessions.

I love that Explorer. It’s a very warm, lush, relaxed IEM. But the details are not terrific, which is ok if you want relaxed, not if you want layered, critical listening style of music and listening. The treble is also tamed, which as treble sensitive means I can listen for hours but at the expense of upper air. It also is best st medium to higher volumes. For that type of listening I use a Performer 5+2. Another option might be the Odyssey. But both are $200 or a bit over. The Explorer is about $100. Another possibility a bit out if jest field would be an Letshuoer S08, a planar eith unique characteristics of being warmer, a tamed treble, not sibilant or piercing as most planars are. Mids are very nice. It does not have that planar “veil” or metallic timber some folks dislike on planars. It is tip sensitive, I like the Spinfit W1’s, other the Penon Liqueur Orange on them. They also come with a decent modular cable and hard case to protect it . A nice package for .~$80, closer to the Hexa. However, my HD600’s are over 20 years old (kinda upper end back then) and no IEM captures the sound of an open back headphones, and for the HD600’s, those mids… Don’t chase the headphones with IEMs. They’re very different animals and treat them as such. Just find an IEM enjoyable and don’t compare them. Their use cases are also a lot different, so enjoy each for their strengths.

I wouldn’t get both. The S08 is like a baby Explorer with a different treble region. I have both and would have been happier with just the Explorer. Still, I do enjoy putting the S08 is rotation.

I like the s08, it has a very similar design to the chu2 and I really do want to try the planar driver. Also, how is the dz4? It seems to have a smaller form factor and is also slightly cheaper.

I can listen to the classical examples you give with S08 / T10. I tried already with Simgot EA500LM that I love a lot, but not sure they are neutral enough for you. The Guillaume Tell ouverture, you mean around 4 minutes 30 for the difficult part ? Before that, it's not "busy" enough to put the IEMs to the test.

And for Zarathustra, the YouTube version has less dynamic than the version I found on Deezer. I didn't find the start too low. It starts with very deep bass (and I guess your iem could struggle on that) then the volume really jumps. To me, all fine. With a good hifi master source and my DAC giving enough power to the IEMs. But the EA500LM doesn't need a DAC, it's easy to drive. Plenty of volume easily. The T10... It's a bit more demanding. S08, it's in between from what I remember, not too difficult. EDIT : S08 needs some power, trying it now. It can handle busy tracks, I'm a bit harsh with it, it's really good. Just not my fav.

I don't have very expensive headsets, so it's a bit hard to compare. But I have Hifiman Ananda too, and used them as a reference for "a more expensive headset that sounds quite good". From some quick tests, I think that S08 / T10 / EA500LM are all very good value for the money, they can keep up very decently, handle "busy" tracks, have details and clarity (I'm no super expert, again). I checked what you consider your best iem, it's very cheap. I guess it's still good but I think you will get an improvement from a 50-100$ device. Is it going to be night and day? I'm not sure. But I'm very happy with both the T10 and EA500LM (I find the S08 a bit "boring", it's less lively than the other two, personal opinion of course, but it's more relaxing at the same time). I have Simgot EW200 and listened to Chu II too (in your current price range), I find them very ok for the price, but I still prefer my duo. I wouldn't go back to cheaper. I EQ my IEMs also, it helps to "tame" their lacks also and adapt to your taste. I still find all three fine without EQ. Ear tips can be an issue / solution also, I changed some with significant difference, especially on bass. Cheap way to improve some IEMs ! Size can matter also, I have SuperMix 4 also, they can handle busy tracks very fine, but they are big and it's an issue for my ears. I'm not sure if they sound that much better than the EA500LM to me, even if the latter is a single DD. They are smaller, they look better to me, good fit, and I love how they sound. Not neutral though, I guess. But they make me wonder if I will ever want much more expensive IEMs. Worth trying this kind of budget for you before investing in x00$ devices I think !

In this price range, in my personal taste, none of them... I like a cold sound, with little bass... but of these I would get the 08 for the collection and put Spring tips on it.

Letshouer S08, but Artti T10 is very close and only $50-60 if you don't mind the look

you basically described Letshouer S08 which would also be my all around pick under $200 msrp anyway and it's only $100, there are stuff that do some stuff better but all around I think step up from it would only be $230 Apevoix Grit

delci ae is better for gaming than em6l but worse for music edit:/ all around for $99 letshouer s08, it's better for music than these and just as good forgaming as em6l still not as good as delci ae tho

for 80 only Delci AE is better for gaming, it's also better for music, for 80 on sale you could also grab Letshouer S08 on sale which is just as good as Vivace for gaming but A LOT better for music, even than Delci AE, so if you value music more get s08, if you value gaming more get Delci AE if you value your wallet the most get Vivace xD

Letshouer S08 is imo the best all around

Letshouer S08 is as good as EM6L for gaming, better for music, it's my favourite all around IEM under $200 msrp that said Kefine Delci AE is best for gaming under $100 but I don't enjoy it for music I think even their Klean is better for music but it's also slightly worse for gaming, it's amazing value tho you can get them for under $40 on sale

S08 is best all around, if they were all same price it would be my #1 pick obviously but Xuan Nv would be #2, that said Artti T10 is best buy if we take prices into consideration and 7Hz Sonus also beats all of these

you pay the duties upfront on shenzhenaudio for EU countries [https://shenzhenaudio.com/blogs/news/tax-duty-policy-announcements](https://shenzhenaudio.com/blogs/news/tax-duty-policy-announcements) also S08 is still best for this even if we don't account availability into account, there are some other good ones but S08 is imo THE best one

S08, they're also good for gaming, just not as good as Delci AE or Klean

you could also grab Letshouer S08 for 90 euros locally in EU which is just as good as em6l for gaming but much better for music

under $100 I'd say Artti T10, T10 pro or Letshouer S08, it rly depends on your budget, big upgrade from those are all $230+ msrp, anything cheaper is just a sidegrade to T10s and/or S08

improvement from T10, T10 Pro and S08, those three are noticeable improvement over what you got, $230-530 is next price range for better IEMs, Apevoix Grit being the cheapest one in that tier, I personally got Intuaura Splendor II, that's $260, there is Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite for $250, Letshouer S15 for $260, those are basically only ones under 300, the $250-260 ones go for $210-215 on sales, and Apevoix Grit I've seen under $190 recently not sure if it's still on sale, but that's all a lot more money than T10, T10 Pro, S08, you can get T10 for like $55, S08 if you are lucky 80 and that's a great package good cable and everything, buy one IEM and forget basically, it's not as good as $230+ stuff but it's under 100, can't find any fault with it for under 100, only Kefine Delci AE is better if you want something for gaming, otherwise S08 is amazing IEM, if I didn't have money to get $260 IEM I got I'd def rock S08, it's imo best all around IEM under $200, for $200 you can find better stuff but just $30 at that point only 15% increase then gets you a step up from there with Apevoix Grit

depending on your budget from cheapest: SGOR Luna Artti T10 Letshouer S08(this is the only one with good imaging and soundstage tho that you can afford)

s08 is all around great, good soundstage, good imaging, good likeable sound, takes EQ well, great build for the price, great accessories for the price, it's imo the best all around IEM under $200 msrp too, there are stuff that are better in certain aspects but all around it's hard to argue against s08 edit:/ for music T10 is rly close and it's def better value for sound if that is all you are after but S08 is better for gaming and movies, a lot better, not the best in it's price range but it with few other IEMs share #2 spot following Kefine Delci AE which is a clear cut above the rest for that but shouldn't be more than $40 if we are talking about performance in music, tldr:/ s08 is great all around, unless you want something rly specific just get S08 if you can afford it, next good all around is 7Hz Sonus(not a planar), can get it for $35-45 on sale

Audio-Technica ATH-R50x from over ears Apevoix Grit on sale from IEMs but also like for $90 Letshouer S08 is great all around \~$70 Kefine Delci AE if you only worry about gaming(not as good as Grit even for gaming but better than S08 and cheaper)

I like bright stuff but S08 is objectively excellent

I have them and the S08s. Love them both. Most iems I’ve tried sound really harsh, but I find the Letshouers to be quite nice.

Loved the S08 for the tuning, hated the S08 for the fit. The only one on this list I didn't really enjoy is the Dunu Kuma 2. I definitely agree with you on the kima it just sounded overly weird and picky with what music it sounded well with

👋 Freak here, works well for me (S08 and ifi go Blu). Rock on.

Seconded - although it can vary wildly between iem in tuning terms, if your eartips aren't right, eq is barely a help. Although I get the most bass on my S08's with Spinfit W1's, it's still good on my Dunu S&S and the fit is perfect. If they don't fit right or are too light / mount the iems too far from my inner ear (perhaps S08 specific) I get no bass... Not tried the 100 pro - what headphones / speakers are you comparing to?

One - slight - caveat for S08's and metal. They're quite resolving / detailed, so if the recording / mastering is crap, they're a touch ruthless. If it's decent though, they're ace. Especially good on percussion.

Not quite as extreme, but it took me 10 attempts to get perfect fit (currently spinfit neo's) after finding out I have large one side and medium the other. I got a \_decent\_ seal, but not perfect. Now with a bit of EQ, it's ridiculously good on my S08's and they're not even that expensive. The bass, my god...

I've EQ'd my S08's to target the Doscinco's, and I'm having an awesome time. I like Ziigaat's stuff (I miss my Nuos), but I'm glad someone has a review of what I'm not aiming for! I'm sure they're half decent if you like that sort of thing, but it doesn't sound like my kinda profile. They do look very nice though.

I mean S08 is kind of warm, but the best overall in warm, right? Ofc under or around 100$?

As someone who listens to EDM and Rock and those types of music the Hexa sounded too clinical to me. Its fantastic for other types of music and general use (eg videos) but I always grab my S08 to listen to my fav tracks when im out and about. Besides that the hard edge of the Hexa was pressing against my ear and irritating it. But thats a non-sound related issue I have lol

I have these and love them.

anything that has a smoother v shaped FR is already kinda bass bleeding a little, like if u dont like the ew300s, the aful explorer is dark leaning and the fact that ot has an emphasis on the bass and mid bass means its gonna overpower the mids more than the ew300s. s08 to me felt a little too dark and warm as well, i think the Delci might be more in ur range since its better balanced? but at the same time if u want proper separated mids, finding it in a v shaped iem is hard or non existent, ID rec more towards something like the new JM1DF target, the slight tuck but not really a tuck shape, helps separate the bass from the mids, or any more U shaped graph

Given your primary choices of genre, I would advise the Letshuoer S08. The warm sound, great imaging and accuracy in the mid-bass would work well. While not the cheapest ($99), you will find that if you buy cheap IEMs, you will want to upgrade quickly, so I would advise spending a bit more to get something a little better right from the start.

I literally asked here if the s12 pro still a good choice for metalcore and rock, almost everyone agree , i hate how subjetive this hobby is lmao 😭, but i guess trying my first planar isnt that bad(t10) lol, i do think i prefer the the less laid back and more closed tunning of the s08 over the explorer tho.

I bought a 2nd pair of s08s to have at my desktop + my travel earbuds because of how well they scale with longer listening sessions. I can have them in for 6+ hours with foam tips and not feel any physical or sound fatigue. They converted me to an iem user as a long time headphone enthusiast

If they are treble sensitive I would suggest the S08 for a planar, that thing is nice and dark. I can't see anyone having an issue with it's treble.

Yes the details are really good, especially when you turn up the volume! I think it might be tied with the Aful Explorer but I only own the S08 so can't compare them myself.

I think you should give them some time, let yourself get used to how they sound, try out the different eartips etc. Give yourself at least a month or so and listen to one set for a couple days than try another. Iems can take some time to adjust to a tuning. However if you like the Qkz x HBB look at some reviews of the Aful Explorer and the S08 (I own the xHBB and the S08), I feel like those are good premium step ups for that type of sound, though I don't know if the Apple dongle is enough for the S08 as it's a planar if you do also end up getting a DAP it will probably be enough power. Tripowin Zonies are nice cheaper cables that you can pick colours with and work well.

They were alright good seperation from all the sounds so you can hear all the gunfire/explosions etc without them blending together and can pick things out where things are coming from left to right but they don't have a lot of depth i.e. things close to you and far from you don't sound as stretched out as you would like in games like BF and Warthunder but they would be great in Valorant for example. I use the Xuan Nv (I play more single player games) and it is much better at that depth but not as good at the other stuff...think the S08 has everything happening in center of your head but the Xuan Nv can have sounds happen from the center to the outside of your skull...if that makes sense. If you've heard of the Zero Red it is a better but more expensive version of that. Honestly you should check out Fresh Reviews, he tests in multiple games, usually Valorant, Apex Legends (probably the most helpful test for your games), Rainbow Six. [This is his overall list, it has links to the reviews as well. ](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sHR4QwC1-YprWbjDEHtrz9qCQskY_uuOsAo-Amjznts/edit?gid=0#gid=0)Pay attention to the prices before watching the reviews though, lol.

The Xuan Nv, it comes with great accessories, and just works for anything, music, gaming (both multi-player and singleplayer), youtube, movies/shows, all of it. It does help if you can get a dongle but honestly I can power it off of an xbox controller just fine. The S08 is the only other one I own and it is good, but....it is cramped for soundstage (it sounds closer to the center of your head, the Xuan Nv the sounds can reach to the edges of your skull, if that makes sense) and it is picky for ear tips while the Xuan Nv comes with Sancai tips which are so good people buy them separately. Oh and it does look really cool!

Still though, get the S08. It's good for rock and vocals.

What kind of vocals? Male or female? Aful Explorers are great with male vocals and Letshuoer S08 are great with female vocals. Both have a decent amount of bass, although you'll need to EQ them to reach basshead levels.

Aful Explorer, Letshuoer S08, Artti T10 Pro, Juzear Defiant. Those are my top 4 under $100.

Would you have the same conclusion about music ? I have the S08 , I love them but wouldn't mind trying something else , only use them for music (metal , electronic and classical)

Thanks for your answer. I find myself only using my S08 over my Hifiman Edition XS for example, the Letshuoer is very comfortable and not tiring. I'd like to find some iem that make me at least as happy as the S08.

I agree with the Bass breakdown. The Bass spreads out more than I’m used to with the default tips included. With some tip rolling they get tighter which is more to my liking. Honestly compared to the Letshuoer S08 it felt lacking in energy, but after some brain burn in it ain’t too bad. Still doing some tip rolling though to get it where I want it

Have both the S08 and the Explorer and go for the S08. Has more exciting Bass which I preference, though with ear tips you can change the Explorer's Bass as well; by default the Explorer bass wasn't tight enough for me, was off putting compared to all my other sets. Many seem to enjoy it, but just not my thing

I also play Hunt Showdown and have tried the S08 < SM4 < Tea Pro. I would put them in that order in my experience, given the amount of bass in the explosions of games OP mentions I think I would agree moving up to the SM4 range is probably advisable. S08s left a lot of background rumble in intense firefights which hurt some of the directional clarity. S08s are great for my music taste at the price point though. Also love how durable they are when bringing them to work so can recommend as well for edm/rock/metal.

I also have the Letshuoer S08s and they get a lot of praise but they are just not in the same tier of sets. Tea Pro does everything better in my opinion, possibly a side grade for a genre like metal but even then I like the separation the Tea Pros offer. To answer the initial question I think the bass would give it away pretty quickly. Tea Pro sounds/feels impactful.

Nothing technical to add, just that I enjoy these posts. Again this is something that a laymen like me can "feely"craft but understanding the mechanics around it is interesting. This feels 100% accurate in my experience as a casual observer, some other common IEMs for gaming that are recommended would be Simgot SuperMix 4 and Mangird Tea Pro (I owned both of these at one point). When playing Hunt: Showdown to my ears it was objectively easy to tell that the SuperMix 4 had less overall bass AND it was also a lot slower to recover to spikes in volume (say a barrel or explosive detonating nearby). Once I had purchased the Tea Pros, the tightness of the bass was extremely noticeable and this seemed to help clean up some of the mids and low treble to make it easier to discern the separation in chaotic environments. Another interesting thought as you had mentioned the Arrti T10, I used the Letshuoer S08s which was a full planar set for a few weeks as well when I had just gotten into the hobby. The difference in the spactial "feeling" not the actual precision itself is another concept that I would love to understand. To me it feels like there is a difference between the precision and how distance plays out on the stage created. For example, I believe with all the sets I have mentioned I could get a good sense of direction based on a sound cue; however, all three sets have a very different resolution of 3D space. I attempted to test as best I could the difference between the MEST Mk2 and Tea Pros to see if I would like one or the other more over the last few days. The Tea Pro's space resolution feels less detailed but more accurate to relative distance, the MEST provides absolutely unparalleled detail but because of the recessed pinna mids messes with the distance some. Both could absolutely be used but one does a better job at creating space "around you" rather than "in front" of you. Is there any way to objectively analyze the perception of that 3D space that is being created?

So I just got the MEST MK2s last week, and they have become my favorite musical set almost instantly. It’s just so pleasing and unique it’s hard to describe. I have also messed with Letshuoer S08s, Simgot SM4, Ziigaat Odyssey, Kiwi Ears Canta (least favorite so far), Letshuoer DX4. Tea Pros are where it’s at for value/performance for me. Odyssey might be better value overall but its lack of stage/space makes me appreciate the MEST/Tea Pro more.

Yeah, s08 & z12 were my go-to's but s08 were the same price & z12 are twice as expensive for whatever reason. 200€ before sales on ali, none available locally. And i heard s12 (especially pro's, which just have a foam filter over s12) can be tuned to s08, so i decided to go the cheapest route.

Artti T10 has plenty sub-bass, I think you enjoy bigger mid-bass (see graph where the castor bass peaks), and that's perfectly fine. Remember people have different ears and music libraries, for me T10 has enough bass for pop and rock genres I listen to My advice is to try S08, it has relaxed upper-mids, so should be bassier in presentation. Stay away from Harman tuning which would definitely lack mid-bass for you

Probably the S08. The default tuning is versatile and pleasant. And if you don’t like it, it’s easy to eq.

I have them and I really like them both for music and gaming. I mostly play single player games to be honest, but I have used them on Hunt: Showdown and they are really good and accurate. But if you are trying to get something for competitive gaming you should go higher into more detailed IEMs. If you play just for fun and music I can recommend them.

To be fair I have tried several IEMs with my controller and none of them have had static issues. I have used: - Moondrop Chu 2 - Moondrop Aria SE - Letshuoer S08 - Kiwi Ears Aether - Thieaudio Hype 4. Maybe you should try another pair to confirm it isn't your controller.

I like the S08 a lot, but there are some things going in to a purchase to be aware of. 1: As a planar, they have a particular sound signature, aside from the tuning, that I would describe as 'responsive attack'. The driver just has this timbre and responsiveness that is immediate. It contributes to both the 'fatiguing treble' and 'weak bass' that some people complain about when discussing planars. Notes that would decay, bloom, or bleed into other regions just don't do that as much. They pop and disappear and leave space for the next note, in my opinion. I personally love the responsiveness - it's great for music with quick bass lines, or if you like a 'bump', rather than a 'boooooooom'. Now, you can tune some of these things in or out of planars and other drivers (DD's specifically, for that loose and thumpy bass), but it's just how planars start as a default. Speaking of the tuning.... 2: The tuning on the S08 tries to avoid some of the 'planar negatives' while leaning into the note attack. Specifically, the treble harshness is tuned down a little (when compared to something like the 7hz Timeless, or Tangzu Zetian Wu, or the Shuoer S12), but that mostly lends to an easier listening experience by reducing fatigue, imo. The treble is still crisp and lively because of the driver, but slightly reduced in overall db (like 2db when compare to the S12). This does leave some people to just say 'just get a DD' when comparing graphs, but that take completely discounts the timbre of a planar. 3: ...and despite the reduced treble, you can still open it up a little if you're willing to spend a couple bucks on top of the iems for tips. The S08 take REALLY well to short-barrel, wide-bore ear tips that raise and open up the treble a little, specifically tips like the Moondrop Spring Tips or Tri Clarion. It's not much, maybe a couple db max, but that's the difference between the S08 and the S12 in tuning across most of the treble range. The thought of 'well if you have to buy tips on top of the S08 to make it sound more balanced, just get the S12' is fair and valid, but there are some peaks on the S12 that the S08 doesn't have; if you don't like those peaks specifically, the S08 and a set of Spring Tips is a better option. I decided to put my S08 in as a wrote this up - they really are a stellar set of iems, specifically for the price. I personally love that responsiveness of a planar, without some of the harsher peaks that others might have. The S12 is also a good option - it's treble really isn't that much more intense overall than the S08, but it does have some real peaky spots that stick out that I personally see as a negative. The S08 aren't really all that 'dark' in the treble, just much more 'flat' when compared to a Harman curve.

I’m going to vote for the S08 as well - that tuning on a planar is so good. Pick up some Clarion Tri or Moondrop Spring Tips later to really set them off; the short barrel, wide nozzle tips just nudge the treble up enough to really open them up, in my opinion. Doesn’t have to be now, as they’re great without them and the ‘balanced’ set they are packed with are fine.

I really like the Letshouer S08 myself for that range, even over the S12. Pair with some Spinfit W1(more bass) or Moondrop Spring Tips (open them up a little, more treble) and they really compete. They have all the best attributes of a Planar (immediate punchy feeling responsiveness) while avoiding a lot of the bad parts (none of the peaks that can be fatiguing for some people, like the S12 has). There is a lot of personal preference to this though. S12 are also really good, but people tend to recommend the S12 pro or 2024 editions, which break the price boundary by a bit.

#Disclaimer: *As always, with each review I try to improve and better demonstrate my experience as a regular but avid and passionate user! *If you are looking for a super technical and in-depth analysis, please feel free to look for another review. There are many guys here who have much more knowledge than me and have been doing this for much longer. *This time, the unit to be reviewed was kindly delivered by Artti through Arisa in exchange for my honest opinion/review. *I will try to be as brief as possible, "straight to the point!" And as unbiased as possible. ---------------- #Gear Used: · Celest - CD-20 · EPZ - TP35 · Notebook (Windows), (MusicBee), (Tidal and Apple Music) · Penon Liqueur O and B, Dunu S&S, Sancai Wide, Whizzer ET100AB (good match), Bamboo Tips, TRN T, SoundCocoon, ddHIFI ST35 and AudioSense S400 (good match) · 4.4 bal. Cable, and High Gain as always ---------------- #Specs: Drivers Config: 14.2mm(Magnetic Planar Driver) Sensitivity: 96db Impedance: 16.5Ω Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-40kHz ---------------- #Unboxing Experience: An unboxing experience that I consider very good, very similar, if not identical, to the T10 OG. The box has the same size and shape as the non-Pro version, both outside and inside we have the same items included, Shells, cable that now differs by being modular bringing plugs in 3.5mm and 4.4mm bal. There are six pairs of good quality eartips, normal and wide bore type, totally "usable". A good quality case, good size to fit the essentials, a small dongle maybe an extra pair of eartips and the iem with the cable. Instruction manual, warranty card to be registered and a quality inspection certificate. ---------------- #Overall Build: Construction is where this set was taken to another level, and perhaps this is where the word "Pro" added to the T10 fits best. The entire shell has been redesigned (material, not so much the shape) and now features an all-metal construction, and despite being a little heavier, it is, in my opinion, a little smaller. I may be one of the few who like the look of the T10 OG, but I can't deny that in this Pro version the T10 inspires much more confidence. The cable has also received upgrades, it continues with 0.78pin but now has better hardware and modular termination, being 3.5mm and 4.4mm bal. with a fitting and screwing system for greater security. The wire material remains exactly the same, they are four strands of 216 core of high-purity cooper plated silver. This same cable was used for the analysis, I see no reason to change it other than aesthetics. As for the eartips, although I find the quality of Artti eartips above average, unfortunately the tips that come with most sets, regardless of the brand, don't fit me well and regardless of that, I always try to find the perfect tip for my taste, the tip that I think sound and seal best with the iem and my tiny ears. ---------------- #Sound Impressions: I'll just keep it short, the Artti T10 Pro is a safer version of the already established T10. This will be quickly explained below, with a comparison being made with the T10 OG. ---------------- #Bass: The bass of the T10 Pro is somewhat fuller than the bass of the "OG" but at the same time it has lost a bit of speed and definition, especially the mid-bass that was super punchy, fast and with an excellent attack in the first version. It may be less exciting for some people, but I see it being good for others. It is really a safer revision but less exciting and satisfying. ---------------- #Mids/ Vocals: This is being very difficult to do, the mids are thin, hard and lifeless? Just like the vocals, which suffered a lot, they are not natural enough and once again there is no wow factor here, I don't describe them as laidback vols but they are not forward either, theoretically they are in the right place, but it doesn't seem that way when I listen and compare them with the OG or even the Letshouer S08, this one does have great mids and super natural vocals to carry those full rumbling bass, a little on the boomy side but they do a better job than the T10 Pro. ---------------- #Treble: The highs will please those who are more sensitive to this area, but at a cost. The highs have just the minimum air and sparkling to achieve the macro and micro detailing necessary to have something average. It doesn't stand out, it could have a little more brightness and extension and still be safe and satisfactory. ---------------- #Technical Performance and Soundstage: Everything here is average and if the average was marked with the Artti T10 "OG" then everything here would be below average. It's not as defined and detailed, this could be an excuse to have something more musical, no, that wasn't the case here, it's not fast nor does it have a good attack which is one of the good characteristics of a good planar driver IEM. The image is very similar to the T10 but the layers are worse, the Soundstage is average, it's not something that impresses but at the same time I wouldn't define it as a box, totally inside our heads. ---------------- #Overall Verdict: Returning to the title I decided to give this review, the word "Pro" does not always mean better. The T10 ''OG" is more capable than the Artti T10 Pro, it is a more exciting and natural version in every way, fast, agile, spicy in the right measure and at the same time musical. A safer and more properly made version of the Artti T10 already existed and is called the Letshouer S08. I think Artti can do much better than this, and I bet they will soon. But I would have preferred even for almost double the price to have just a shell revision, with the modular cable and exactly the same fit as the original T10. I hated doing this review because I really tried hard to like this set, I had high hopes for it, having used the T10 and S08 for so long I think it was the fact that my expectations were so high. *Again, thanks to Artti and Arisa for kindly sending me these units.

Great review Bro! Thanks 🤟🏻❤️ The comparison you made with the S08 was very accurate, similar to my impressions!

I do own all three of these IEMs and as far as I'm concerned the Odyssey is the best of the bunch, but it is twice the price of the other two.

S08, Explorer, Volume S

Arrti T10 is by far the best value, nothing beats it at its price. I bought a whole bunch of planars to see if I was missing out (planning to return the ones I don't keep) Kz PRX- pretty good, t10 is better Letshuoer S08- Great, trades blows with T10 but 2x the cost Kiwi Ears Aether- the best, but absolutely not 3x better. Hifiman Edition XS (Yeah I wanted to see what a planar headphone was like) Absolutely amazing for live music/ real instruments. Not so great for hip hop etc.

I've tried planars and basshead sets so far! Kiwi Ears Aether, Letshuoer S08, Kiwi Ears Airoso, KZ Decet, CCA Hydro, and today the QoA Adonis arrived... I even wondered if 'd get a bigger benefit with headphones so I bought an Edition XS. They are all really good, but the difference between my $50 Artti T10 and the $150 Aether was much more "I guess it sounds a bit better if I concentrate." Same for ear tips- they've been wasted purchases.

If you want a great IEM and $50 in your pocket, Artti T10. If you want a great IEM with great accessories, build, and fit the Letshuoer S08.

That's a shame, they are super comfy for me but sound quality doesn't matter if it hurts! Try the Letshuoer S08- A planar with a little more bass and warmth, but it's close enough to the t10 that I returned it. Feels small and a good shape, I'd guess it would be more comfortable for you. I would avoid the Hexa- I got that before the T10 and returned it. It's very accurate, but it sucked the soul out of music, boring and flat.

Definitely S08 The IE300, a lot of peeps say it's a downgrade over IE200 plus the IE series seems to have a lot of driver breaking down issue in this sub.

Well, 7Hz Legato, as much as I like the brand, they are sometimes a hit and miss. Legato is decent. The bass is all muddy. Subass is decent too. Good for the price. S08 is excellent choice tho

s08 is less rumble and more slam; the pure is a really different sound, you would have to try it first, not for everyone, dont trust the hype, hexa with more bass; kefine klean are a kz edc pro clone; ew300 comes with two tunings depending on the nozzle, bassier gold or balanced silver, more rumble than slam

A planar IEM + DAC (+ equalizing PEQ for your sound taste). For example, Letshuoer S08 or Artti T10 Pro + Fiio Melody or Fiio KA15 (+ PEQ soft for PC, Equalizer APO + Peace, also web site squig.link for auto EQ settings) Or hybrid IEMs for gaming: Simgot EG280, Moondrop Rays, etc

For FPS gaming, I think, it's better to take a planar IEM, like Artti T10 Pro, Letshuoer S08, Kiwi Ears Aether, etc or full-BA IEM, like KZ AM16, KZ Sonata. They are fast and detailed, you will hear everything and everyone in the game. Also you will need a DAC for planars, they like powerful sources

I have one. Probably my second favorite planar. Great for rock and EDM.

Shozy P20. However, it's not as comfortable because of the odd shell design, and mine has some driver flex. The S08 will probably be comfortable for nearly everyone who tries it, and is built like a tank. I tend to suggest it for anyone coming from a DD setup that wants to try a planar, even though I prefer the sound of the Shozy P20 by 10-15%.

Hexa is great. Very clean sound. S08 doesn't have sharp treble. Might not be a crisp sounding as you prefer, but it's a very good option. Personal favorite in your list is the Explorer. Something about it... Kinda addicting.

Letshuoer S08 or Shozy P20 would be my pick for what you're suggesting. The EW300 is great, but not everyone likes the combo of microplanar+piezoelectric for mids and treble.

Absolutely love my S08’s with Penon Orange Liqueur tips.

The S08 are amazing! Had mine for a couple months now and I love them... Looking at getting some Aful performer 5+2's though

Get the Letshouer S08 based on ur music preferences this would be the best, also wait for a decent sale they go on sale often I got my pair for $66

Letshuoer S08. Great technicals and a nice, natural mild v-shaped tuning. They sound really great with everything from drum & bass to Hans Zimmer scores. Theyre not exactly power hungry, but they do benefit from a bit more juice than the average set. Or maybe Fiio FH5, especially if you're not opposed to buying 2nd hand. Warmish but natural tuning with really nice technicals and excellent bass, tho a bit more sub-bass than mid bass. A very well balanced all-rounder set, and has been my go-to set for just plugging into the phone and running errands, airporting or whatever. I also really liked the Juzear Defiants, especially in this price range, but they sacrificed technicals for a more energetic and musical sound. Very fun set, just not for critical listening.

I’ve only tried the Artti T10 (did not like) and the Letshuoer S08 (my fav IEM so far)

I won't recommend using in-line microphone with IEMs. Its still better to separate your microphone from the IEM. And for the IEM, I usually recommend going for Planar IEMs * SGOR Luna \* * Artti T10/T10 Pro \* * NiceHCK F1 Pro \* * Letshuoer S08/S12/S12 Pro \* * Kiwi Ears Aether \* * Kiwi Ears Melody \* * Shozy P10/P20 * Kefine Klanar * Moondrop Stellaris * TinHiFi P1 Max II * KZ PR1/PR1 Pro/PR2/PRX Or planar hybrids * Rose Technics/Roseselsa Aurora Ultra \* * Simgot EW300 \* * Simgot SuperMix 4 \* * Kinera Celest Plutus Beast \* * Kiwi Ears Canta * Moondrop May \* * Moondrop Rays \* * TRN White Tiger (\* recommended)

Most likely Letshouer S08 is not the IEM best for your ears terms of tuning preference to sound great. You maybe need a little bit more treble, closer to a mild V-shaped or U-shaped balanced IEM. Letshouer S08 is more leaning towards a warmer experience and trebles and upper mids may be lacking for your ears.

Check out Aful Explorer. It is great for DnB, especially if you listen at high volume. One of the most comfortable iems i have tried. Kiwi Ears Etude is a good option too, but probably not as first iem because its Bone Conduction can be hit or miss on certain tracks. It is also quite big, so it may not fit smaller ears. I think Hexa is not a good choice for any bass heavy music, the bass on Hexa is very underwhelming. It also has a really uncomfortable shell imo, so the fit could be an issue. Pure should be a much better choice than hexa if you need bass (judging from the graphs and reviews, never tried it). Pure has more midbass than Hexa, it hass less treble too, so it would be a better choice for DnB. Letshuoer S08 is also a great option if you want something bassy, one of the best under 100$ for Hip Hop / Dnb imo (one of the better planars out there imo, doesn't have excessive treble that most planar iems have). It is very comfortable too.

I love mine. I thought they'd be more warm/muffled, but rather, I'd describe the sound as clean and balanced, with good treble extension (better than the wyvern abyss). It's less shouty, too, which I enjoy cause sounds like gunshots are not fatiguing. Maybe not the best in terms of having a lot of treble to be able to pinpoint things more precisely, but they are small and comfortable with a very soothing and responsive sound, so I think they are great for long gaming sessions, without worrying about that 0.1% gamer chair advantage you MAY have in one round every 3 days. Overall, I'd definitely recommend them unless you're specifically focused on fps esports at the highest level. For everything else, they are good and comfortable and sound very well, especially if you don't like shouty, nasally, tincan type of sounds and they fatigue your ears.

Not instantly but Letshuoer S08. My first non cheap iem and right side died. No help from Letshuoer or the store that sold me it. Never buying Letshuoer again, their cs wasted my time pretended like they were gonna help me while trying to sell me another iem and when pressed I got ghosted, fuck them forever. KZ EDX Lite with Spinfit tips and some EQ is pretty fun, and Abyss for everyday use is nice. EDX a bit too bright, Abyss a bit too 'short' on the high frequencies and slightly radio/boxy sounding on the voices. Looking for something balanced next with some good treble extension still, maybe Aful P5+2 or Hidzis Ms3 or EW300.

S08 is warm. No high planar treble in S08. That would be s12 or s12 pro.

I have Letshuoer s08. It’s a warm sounding Iem . If that’s your liking in sound you can go for it. I would recommend it happily. They are easy to listen to and no fatiguing so can wear them for longer periods. Another option to consider would be Aful Explorer. Again same warm sounding Iem. Between S08 and Explorer I chose S08, but they are both very similar in sound.

Letshuoer S08 for me currently. Can’t stop listening to them, especially because they are so easy to listen to and non fatiguing in long sessions. Love watching movies with S08’s

Well for planar Letshuoer S08 is my first Planar IEM. I had Blon Bl 03 previously which was single driver DD. For headphones, DT 770 pro, DT 770 pro x, FiiO JT1 Above ones are that I own. Few I tried is like aful explorer, Letshuoer s12 , Arti t10

Letshuoer S08 , they are easy to listen to and can be used for longer sessions. It’s warm in tuning and non fatiguing. Details are there if and when required or song or movie calls for it.

Same here. Chose S08 over explorer. Although I found both to be very similar in sound. It’s just the s08 was more comfortable to wear for longer sessions

Blon Bl 03, used it a lot. Still working. Though very recently I got Letshuoer S08. So not using Bl 03 currently.

I have S08 , and they are pretty amazing. Warm tuning, easy to listen to. S12 I tried but was bit harsh to my ears given the treble. S15 is supposed to be good, though haven’t heard them yet. Their price have also dropped recently so you can check them out.

Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 , those two are good options to consider. Not a very informative person on audio technicalities but, S08 is clear enough to enjoy movies and music. Explorer is pretty similar in sound to S08. IMO you can go with either one.

I have S08, and it is indeed easy to listen too at high volumes. Love watching movies with it and listening to music. Not fatiguing at all. I tried both explorer and S08, liked S08 better

Yeah they are just easy to listen to. While I watch movies sometimes I do crank up the volume for more immersion and the S08 are so nice, not fatiguing at all in my case. I don’t have much experience with IEMs, but S08 are surely good. Atleast in my case, I am enjoying its sound. Sub bass is definetly there when it calls for it, no piercing sounds so works for me great. Hope it works for you great too.

Letshuoer S08. Warm, non fatiguing, preserves details, and good for long sessions. Very musical. Movies, music, games all very much enjoyable on it.

Letshuoer S08 if you like warmer sound. Check out Audio amigo YouTube review on those , he compares to other IEMs , plus check out his review for other planar IeMs. It will be very informative and helpful for you

Letshuoer S08. Warm, preserves details, and non fatiguing. Very Musical and fun sounding. Clean bass and rumble, treble is not harsh or piercing.

Am using Apple Dongle, iPhone 13 Pro Max , S08. Sometimes I feel it’s enough for dac/amp. Sometimes it’s maddening to feel that I need stronger dac/amp 😂 It sounds good, and is loud enough at 60-70% volume still that unscratchable itch 😰

Letshuoer S08. Warm, relaxing and Music set. Look up Audio Amigo YouTube review on those. That will give you tons of info and help.

S08, my beloved. You are right there is something about them that makes you want to listen more. Killer setup indeed, Enjoy 👍

Arite , I can recommend a few based on what other people here have recommended and on my limited experience Supermix 4 - people recommend this a lot. Gets used a lot on Valorant. Letshuoer S08 - it is recommended as well. I have it as well. I can recommend , but mic is not there, I have external mic for same. I use it on valorant too , Plat 2 myself. I kinda switch between these, FiiO JT1 (headphone), and my personal favourite DT 770 pro Kiwi Ears Quartet - have seen few recommend this IeM, plus I Know few players on valorant who use this. Simgot EM6L - this one comes highly recommended as well here, lotta people swear by it. Know few on valorant who use this. Letshuoer S12 2024 - I have been told to get this one a lot by many, since I own S08. You can look it up. These are the few that comes to mind. Price you may check it’s tricky with discounts, most of them should fit in your budget, plus cheap dac amp dongle Let us know what did you decide to go with good luck

Letshuoer S08 . Warm and relaxing tuning. Preserves details, can use for long sessions. No harshness or piercing high ends. Bass is very good and even with such bass preserves details.

I think both S08 and supermix 4 have different tunings. S08 being planar takes EQ very very well. Supermix 4 is also a highly recommended set around here. I would recommend watching [Audio Amigos YouTube review](https://youtu.be/8TdsflahkhI?si=5QeKoKkx41Sp9Ckm) on Letshuoer S08 and for [Supermix 4](https://youtu.be/dwA9CyHmtwQ?si=65bW1iN0PsNH6XY2) This would give you a lot of clarity and info. Will certainly help you in understating about both the IeMs

Look up Letshuoer S08 and Explorer (you already considering) I would recommend checking out Audio Amigo YouTube review on those. Will give you plenty of info and details and help decide which one to get. I myself have s08. Bass is very good. It’s a warm set and relaxing like explorer. But, still preserves details. Do check out the videos I mentioned above it should definetly help.

I got mine today. Have been using it with the apple USB C dongle. coming from Moondrop Aria, honestly I am not impressed. I feel like the Aria sounds more alive and enjoyable. I am going to give it some hours to "burn-in" and then see but so far, I feel like there is a lot of hype and everyone uses these vague words to explain/review an IEM but I at least havent felt like this has been an upgrade. idk if I am missing anything here.

I am not an audiophile, but was using hte OG Aria for a few years. then tried to see what else might be available, and read much praise about the S08 and bought it during hte holidays. I am not sure I like them any more than the Arias. yes, in some songs there is more details of instruments, but I feel like bass is slight harsh, and lacks the clean thump, if that the right word to describe it. idk, someone advised I use a dac with it, and I did order one off of Amazon, but then returned it as there wasnt a noticeable difference in sound quality. not sure if it is helpful, but just wanted to share my own experience with it. maybe there are some songs I enjoy listening to but its not for every song, and my playlist is a mix of every genre so I cant change iems in the middle of listening to music.

Thanks, I was curious, I know it is anatomycally particular. I found the transparent tips very comfortable and I’m very happy with my S08. Not as sound staged as my other IEMS (Fiio FD15) but my anatomy feels the S08 as part of myself.

I got the letshuoer s08 a week ago. I'm genuinely happy with it, it sounds kinda warm and bassy, without compromising on the details. It's fun to listen to. I use wavelet to eq it sometimes when I don't feel like listening to a lot of bass and it works really well

Found them better than expected for gaming. I play tactical shooters often and they were pretty accurate in *Ready or Not* in particular. But tbh I'd rather listen to music on them. Especially EDM or hiphop.

I have the T10 Pro and the s08. You aren't missing out. The upgrade to its planar is noticeable.

To me they sound very similar. The s08 is a bit darker, more detailed and has a little more punch to the bass. It responds massively to EQ as well. But if you have the T10 Pro already it’s definitely a side-grade. 

ill say letshouer S08 with good amplification, or maybe the Kefine Delci but thats a noticeable focus on bass in both of them, what was the switch config you used the Rhapsody with?

ill personally would go for the S08 since it would be closer to what the Rhapsody config would was, but with fuller mids that would help with the overall presentation, now, afaik, delci is one of the most comfortable iems on its price range it sure would work well too with acustic music, but it can also be a bit overly energetic on some areas of the sound where Rhapsody wanst. The Que is fine, but it would be closer to what the Rhapsody is in terms of being more an energetic bassy V-shape, while the S08 and the Delci are more in line with a warm bassy sound. So, if you want just like a direct (kinda) upgrade, the Que could be better, if you want also a change in tuning, Delci or S08, but one think that i must mention is that some Reviewers said that the Que could potentially sound a bit muddy vs those other 2.

i do hope you enjoy it, just take in mind that a planar would need some good amplfication, so around 65mW of power output or more would be ideal (not sure whats the output on that DAP tho, so im mentioning just in case).

given what you like would go for S08 or EW300, the others would have more noticeable treble and Klanar could be good, but you risk the "planar timbre" that some people dont like (S08 deals with it way better btw).

So, If you havent checked it yet: This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) However, i must mention that "a lot of bass" usually doesnt play all that well with rock music genres (with hip-hop is fine tho). So, if you just want something Funny and energetic, with Nice bass, the Kefine Delci or maybe the Kiwiears Canta could work, for some more bassy stuff, Explorer or the TRN White Tiger could work for you (specially the White tiger since it comes with 3 tuning nozzles to adjust the sound). If you really want LOTS of bass, the 7Hz Legato is the choice, and if you want something clearly bassy but not too bassy, the Letshouer S08 (along with a DAC for power) could be a solid option, allthought this one is a bit more on the relaxed side of sound because of its warm, bassy presentation.

i am sorry, idk why reddit didnt notified me. the closer to properly basshead that i know is the Letshouer S08, followed by the Delci of Kefine, both arent that large on the nozzle, but they arent like small (if for reference we take iems like the Z300 which has a like 4.5mm or so nozzle), but they are under 6mm* afaik (not taking into account the lid tho), which is functional for most people, and also i have seen very little people complaint about the fit on them. That said, one eartip that could help a lot is the CP155 from spinfit, i have small ear canals and those mede fitting the Truthear Zero Blue possible (almost 7mm nozzle btw).

As a person that owns a planar and DD iems. it really depends on what Is your friend looking for, i personally dont find planars timbre bas or metallic but for some people it can be distracting, that said, BA deivers are said to be prone to that aswell so a hybrid with BAs could be counter-productive. Now, the 2 main problems i find with planars is first, they need quite good amplfication, some more, some less, but you will need a dongle dac always basically. On the other hand, DDs usually suffer a bit less even if they are underpowered. the other problem with planars is that for some the bass might not had enough punch. planar bass is good, but not that good vs a good DD Bass. For cheap, Sgor Luna is a pretty good starting planar pick tho, you can even bundle it up with a dongle dac, so its a good option, but it doesnt seem to compete with better planars for its lower price, it does perform well for its price tho. If your friend like the zero2, it could be a decent new step, but for more performing planars, you dont want F1 Pro or T10 since the focus is more on the sub-bass Rumble over mid-bass kick, the least you could do is the Klanar, and specially the Letshouer S08 if he wants a bassy sound. As for non-planars, ill rather recomend the normal delci as long as he is not planing on gaming too much, since doesnt work all that well, and the AE tunings arent exactly the best use of the driver and is more expensive. EW300 is a pretty decent pick, but some people find them heavy on the ears, so do take in mind. As for other options, similar to Zero2, there arent exactly much closer to, but you could also check the Tangzu Fudu. But honestly, if your friend can go for planars, i think it would be a better pick in this budget, and if you know he likes bass, specially the S08 from planars. If not, Delci would be the safer options between delci and EW300. If your friend plans on doing gaming the Delci AE could be more versatile, but i think you would be sacrificing a good bassy tuning vs 2 just decent tuning. Talk it with your friend and narrow down options. If you are interested in more options for $50 or below, i have a whole pick list of you are interested.

i also agree with you, adding to that tho, S08 is a good bassy set but being a planar is on a similar situation of the NV about getting better results with a more powerful source than a basic 3.5mm Jack. So, also a good choice if OP wants a bassy sound, because while the others are nice, they arent as bassy as the S08.

having the QKZxHBB (besides other models like Kefine Klean, and having tested Cadenza, Salnotes Zero blue and so on), there arent that many similar warm options around $50, and around $100 there are options but with some things to consider, first, the closets i think would be 7hz Legato, but not sure how different is going to feel since is also a bass heavy iem but it has more amount of and a stronger presence of bass vs the QKZ one, so thats a bass heavy option if you want one. If you want something just more warm and relaxed, the Aful Explorer is the way, but might be too expensive if is not on a sale, so, Tangzu Fudu, if you can find it, comes quite close, but is a VERY relaxed set, so you might need some time to get used to it even if using the QKZ. And if you have a dongle DAC to power them the Letshouer S08 could also be an excellent choice for warm and bassy. If you havent checked it yet, This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [\- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) Youn can get a bit more insgiht on each one of the mentioned iems if you wish.

ill highly recomend to check the Kefine Delci and the Letshouer S08 as one of the best bassy sets under $100 right now, and btw, the Quarted is another bassy set, but the thing with it is that its too polarizing for some reason, you either hate it or love it, if you like bass, is likely you would enjoy it, but i cant say for sure.

Definitely Check Truthear Pure, also simgot EW300, if you do want something more Bassy Letshouer S08 (i think in this case is better over the Explorer because it has the same level of relaxed warm sound but with more fordward mid range and it would feel less "muddy" because of the planar driver which naturally sounds quite clean). Also, not sure if you only want fuller vocals or also a bassy sound, but there is the Dunu Kima 2 which is a vocal fordward iem with fairly full vocals, decently warm, but is quite Neutral leaning, meaning bass is not particularly boosted to achieve the warmness as with the other sets mentioned above.

i also would vote for S08 for the simple reason that it is the safest pick from the bunch, bassy but not like bloated, and fit doesnt seem to be as much of s problem as Artti planars have.

while EW300 is pretty tamed vs all other simgot, i agree, is fine but not the best, S08 probably would get the job done better in terms of something to use for long listening sessions.

Letsghouer S08 if you want still some balance in sound, Aful Explorer if you really want tammed treble.

Second this, also, realistically most of the listed are more or less considered reliable but each one can have problems, actually i think T10 is the one i have seen less people complaint about around here but is still a plastic build, no metal, so durability would heavily depend on how much you care for your stuff, as well as metal shells struggle with humidity even if they are well liked as EW300 and S08, so yeah, OP gotta pick something he enjoy (i also think s08 is a very good option) and then be sure to take care of their stuff. at the end of the day anything can come defective from the factory or just have bad luck and die early for some random reason.

Yeah for gaming and general music probably Defiant or EW300 (any version works just fine, sound is near the same, only difference is DSP version comes with a type-c conection cable), or Letshouer S08 if you want an extra on bass with still nice clarity.

For starters you have the Aria 2 which is almost eveything you mentioned but the tuning is less energetic, more balanced. after that, i guess the EW300 is kinda like that but that would feel kinda heavy vs the Chu2, in the ear i mean. I guess you can check a bassy V-shape like the TRN white tiger? or maybe the Letshouer S08? wanting a metal shell only makes things harder to pick, and i honestly dont think most iems around $100 match what the Chu 2 is, nor jus a warm balanced sound, its just either bassy, or balanced or bright i think. This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/uV3vBbSUNc If you want to serach more possible options.

If you liked Waner 2, consider Simgot EW300, is well liked for gaming and have a somewhat similar sounds style, tho of course it also performs better, if you want to try different stuff, the Delci AE might be more bassy, but also might work better for rock thanks to the extra bass. If you find it at around your price, Letshouer S08 is a nice, bassy balanced option, i mention it because, rock usually like faster agile bass, but also with a decent punch, but cymbals or vocals might get lost in the sound or be too intense, S08 is pretty safe on that regard without losing detail, so worth considering. Tho, if you are going to conect iems to a PC, please get a DAC, because the PC ports could affect sound (like boost bass up a lot) thanks to impedance. As for cables, poorly made, or purposedly made altered cables, can affect the sound, nowadays is not really common, as long as the cable is not super horrible, which most arent, you will be fine, rather spend the money on a dongle DAC for your PC for now, ir if you feel the cable is too uncomfortable when using it.

Non of the mentioned, besides Z300, particularly bassy as Castor bass, the closer is Zero 2 but probably youll want to use the impedance adapter, that said, comfort on the Truthear zero line-up is not the best, tho, the Blue 2 has the smaller nozzle from the bunch, still, is a thick nozzle so bear in mind. Not sure how much money you are playing with, but ill say Kefine Delci or specially Letshouer S08 are better actually bassy alternatives to all you listed. Z300 is not bad but is barely an upgrade and bass is not as engaging as on Castor anyway. If you outright want something with the same tuning style as Castor, consider maybe CCA Rhapsody though is a bit old at this point, is almost as old as castor anyway, but even bulkier onto the ear. Really the tuning style of castor is not much used at around $100 bucks, i think youll be fine with Delci instead. There is Dunu X Koto ITO which is a literal direct upgrade in sound style but thats $200usd MSRP.

I was in the same boat and just bought a few pairs sight unseen - here’s my take on the ones I own (my references are the OG AirPod Pros, Pro 2, Sony XM4s, Grado 125i): These last few weeks I’ve used the KZ Castor Bass, Letshuoer S08, Simgot SuperMix 4 KZ Castor: Not the same level as OG AirPod Pros, treble is a bit muffled. Wouldn’t really use them over AirPods, but hey they were dirt cheap Letshuoer S08: Got them for a steal ($95AUD / $60USD). Great technicalities, instrument separation is amazing. Very interesting sound, can be a bit fatiguing on the treble. Bass is tight but punchy enough. I would put them equivalent to AirPod Pro 2. SuperMix 4: Fuller bass compared to the S08 but it doesn’t hit as acutely (if that makes sense), treble is smoother and easier to listen to. Would say they are still an AirPod Pro 2 equivalent or slightly better Of the 3, the S08s are the ones I keep going back to cause they are always interesting to listen to. Like others have said, the S12 or S12 pros might be worth a try as the S08s are so good already and its meant to be an improvement on top of that - but be careful of the treble Edit: For reference I normally listen to a lot of electronic, dance, pop

I also like S08 more . I have s08 / s12pro / s12 2024 and et142 . I tried explorer at audio store but i dont buy it

I’d say s08 and aful explorer are both great choices. Doscinco as well if you can fork out the funds it beats both of those.

My pool from which to draw planar (IEM) experiences is somewhat more limited than a lot of people in this subreddit, but I currently own the following planars, listed in order of preference: Simgot EW300 Letshuoer S08 7Hz x Crinacle Salnotes Dioko The EW300s are great. Love em lots. They're "fun" sounding. The S08s are a little more reserved, and are generally the ones I go with laying in bed at night. They're also more comfortable for a side-sleeper. The Diokos are just.. not great in any way. They're not BAD, really, just boring.

Well said apart from i disagree on what you said about tips not affecting its bass response, they absolutely do for me, i wouldn’t of ever picked up my SO8s again if they sounded how they did out the box with stock tips, it wasn’t untill i put some dinivus velvets on that they opened up more and created a palpable amount of slam, usually if a IEM lacks low end i lose interest very quickly. The sound stage of the SO8 is far from perfect but it does well on tracks that aren’t too busy, i find lowering 250-400hz a few db helps air it out and emphasis the Hyper low frequencies also helping the vocals shine through i find symballs and high hats to sound natural one of the reasons i like listening to rock with them, their fast transient attack is enough, it keeps up with energetic rock music, especially for the price, you get what you pay for, that being said i have tried iems that cost more and sound way worse. It’s partly the reason i still bother with buying sets that are at the lower end of the scale. I had to change the cable though was not a fan at all which was a shame as you can of course use 2.5,3.5 and 4.4. Oh well.

Letshuoer S08, always come back to them.

I love my S08s, the value is insane. They are my "I really don't wanna blow my head off with treble" set. Supermix 4s are not what you want, I have those too.

Letshuoer S08. Has planar driver so good image separation & technicalities. Good bass & well extended treble. But doesn't have removable filters like Chu 2.\`

Letshuoer S08 for its warm tuning and metal shell.

Imaging and soundstage Kefine Delci AE, resolution Tinhifi Dudu and Letshouer S08(bit below them Artti T10), imo S08 is best all around IEM under $250 msrp and it's only $100

Dont have a lot of iems but I do enjoy Nujabes and MF DOOM with my letshuoer s08

It's really fun for some people... I am pretty impressed with what I recently picked up. I didn't think I'm going to make collecting a regular habit though... I'm really loving the Letshuoer S08 on a simple Fiio ka11 dongle... It's ridiculously good sound quality for the money! I was partial to planar over the years headphones and good speakers though...  I've kind of settled.... Because of my lean towards speakers in a room, I'm mostly using Dolby Auto (Least colored or diffused) on a Samsung.  And because planars can handle it, I'm also using the tiniest bit of EQ "kissing" with wavelet, which I already owned. It doesn't really need it but it makes it sound even better if your really subtle.  I'm definitely not a purest IEM guy! But I'm getting sound that rivals good speakers and a nice room... And comes closer than it had any right to, to very nice and pretty expensive over the ear planner headphones.   The whole thing for like a 120 bucks... Color me super impressed.  

they sound excellent.... very different tonal profile, though... if you have profile you like...maybe you chose wrong for your preference...... try raising the volume! and listening to something with some good lowend..... get used to it than switch to something with a different tonal profile again after adjustment.... you may miss the S08 all of a sudden. I absolutely love the S08! great warmyet full IEM.... quick, present drivers that can slam!

I like them very much but I have two concerns here: firstly these are not that good for gaming specifically, secondly the S12 (2024 tuning) from Letshuoer is only marginally more expensive in most place right now and provides both much better detail for gaming and arguably a less warm sound which many users will find more agreeable for music listening as well (though there's certainly also plenty of folks like me who love warm signatures), so that would be my recommendation to still stay close to the original idea of the S08 but improve on it in the regards you were specifically looking for, unlike pivoting to a completely different type of IEM. If you're looking purely for a good gaming performer in that exact price range the Truthear Hexa would be the only model I'd otherwise recommend looking into.

mp145 or s08. i have both and they are awesome

You all made me buy more expensive iem than i was planning, i just snatched a Letshuoer S08, and see how it performs, mainly because it provides the commodity the Artti does not, and also because i found them cheaper than the Artti for some reason, like $48, so i didn't put much thought than that. In Ali with store cupon, ali event cupon, and coins discount. It shaves of like $40

They can be quite harsh if you’re sensitive to treble or if you enjoy listening at higher volumes so id say no. Id recommend the Letshuoer S08 or Aful Explorer for something smoother and more relaxed as simgots tend to be fairly bright.

S08 > EW300 > Defiant for build

Letshuoer S08 over the EW300 for Rock & Jazz any day (it does everything the EW300 does but better - more balanced, faster & more defined bass, a more natural non metallic timbre, it’s smoother, vocal’s & midrange are also much better & more naturally placed.) - better at music thats older and sounds more organic/analog so rock really shines, most natural sounding out of the ones I’ve mentioned. Juzear Defiant if you want a big emphasis on vocals & sub bass specifically (I found them good for pop, ballads & classical and just ok at everything else but in terms of layering they can do modern metal fairly well) i find the midrange / mid bass not quite weighty or lush enough for me and the treble can be quite peaky but that’s just my personal preference. - it’s cleaner and less organic but more digital sounding imo so this is better with modern mixes. Aful Explorer I definitely prefer these over the Defiant it has brilliant imaging, textures and sub bass, clean sounding overall but the midrange can seem quite flat until you scale it with more power then it really comes alive and more dynamic. Treble is quite dark but very smooth so it depends on what you prefer in the treble. Brilliant at hip hop, dance, r&b, edm, pop etc but I’d still go with the S08’s for rock & jazz specifically. - it’s still fairly modern sounding i think due to the tilt in sub bass but the mid range does sound far more natural & neutral than the defiants but it’s still better overall with modern mixes imo.

I got the S08 for 55 the same price I paid for the EW300 it goes on sale quite often

Letshuoer S08 are excellent but if you liked the brightness of the EW200 then you might prefer the Letshuoer S12 instead.

Still painful in the pinna but it’s better than the silver but i also don’t like how congested the lower mids are. Overall with both nozzles i just find the balance really odd - far too warm & congested lower down but far too thin/metallic/harsh higher up def not for me but the metallic timbre is the deciding factor tbh because it’s the thing that I noticed the most. I also got the Letshuoer S08s & Aful explorers and both are a massive upgrade imo so I think that’s the path I’m on now (something more balanced & natural sounding with defined mid bass like the S08s but with texture, imaging and sub bass like the explorer) neither are perfect so I’m still looking for one that ticks all the boxes but its definitely closer to what i’d prefer especially the S08s.

Letshuoer S08 when its on sale (I got it for around 55) take a look during the 11.11 sale.

You just can’t make them sound sibilant, it is extremely smooth out of the box. Waiting for it to burn-in.

Agree, they’re extremely smooth. The bass is extremely satisfying with quick decay and just enough slam. The imaging is pretty good as well, only the size of the image is not very large.

Funnily enough, it's another Letshuoer (S08)

I second this. Also, AutoEq is a very useful tool to try different IEMs at zero cost. I've EQ'd my Wan'ers to more than 10 different IEM tunings before I decided to get the Letshuoer S08. I would say AutoEq is pretty accurate since I tried tuning my S08 to the Waners and the only difference I can hear is the siblance.

You won't be disappointed! I got a pair of S08 a couple weeks ago and I really like them - coming from a pair of old Hexas.

I haven't tried the T10 but I understand they compare favorably to S08 - I just didn't want another plastic shell IEM so I would've had to get the T10 Pro which was over my budget. I kind of knew what I was looking for when I was shopping the S08's (something energetic, silky smooth, and more fun than analytical) these checked all the right boxes for me and I really enjoy using them.

S08 are one of Letshouer's best planars; very DD-like in its timbre and tonality. I own much of their lineup and this remains in my rotation to this day, alongside sets that are far pricier (including other planars). That said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend these for gaming. Upper mids and treble are the two major areas of the frequency range that are critical for gaming cues; the S08 has a warmer, more relaxed presentation, with more forward sub/mid bass. Lower frequencies narrow the soundstage and will typically make IEMs sound more intimate and "in the head," and emphasized sub/mid bass can cause some masking higher up in the frequency range. The S12 2024 is a better option and not much more expensive. I also still regularly recommend the EM6L (and while I own the S12 2024, the EM6L is what I run 90% of the time while gaming).

Depends on personal preference, of course, but for metal and classical the S12 2024 would probably work better for you. The incisiveness, speed, additional detail and clarity in the treble, there are several areas where the S12 2024 are going to outperform the S08. That said, I see those two IEMs as compliments to one another. I run the S08 for hip hop, EDM, some classic and hard rock -- especially albums I would typically listen to on over ear DDs, through an OTL or tube amp, where the added warmth enhances the track; and I'd use the S12 2024 for metal, progressive, modern rock, classical, etc.

To be fair, it's the same driver in both sets but sits in front of the 2024 because of value (if you're willing to EQ). If you don't want to EQ, I'd recommend saving a bit more to grab the 2024. Letshuoer nailed the tuning of that set; The S12 2024 and the S08 are the best sets they've released in years. I've said this in other threads, but those two IEMs are getting more play time than even some newer kilobuck and midfi sets in my rotation. Not that any of those sets are bad performers, by any stretch, I'm just enjoying the hell out of both of them.

I own some of those $1200 IEMs, and I use none of them for gaming. Many of them make poor gaming sets, with a few exceptions. The IEMs I have used most often are the Simgot EM6L, Supermix 4, Crinicle Zero Blue/Blue 2, Thieaudio Hype 4, Xenns Tea and Top Pro, Meze Alba, and Letshuoer S08 & S12 Anniversary. The one I recommend most is the EM6L. It has consistently been my go-to for competitive gaming most of the time. Coincidentally, it's one of the cheapest sets in my rotation. Unfortunately, recency bias often often plays a major role in what is recommended in the community, which is why you don't see it as often in these types of recommendation threads, but a good tuning remains good forever -- which means many budget sets may be getting more attention recently, but they haven't necessarily dethroned the EM6L. The most critical areas of the frequency range for gaming is the upper mids and treble. The EM6L excels in these areas, offering great detail and clarity, with enough bass extension and emphasis to round out the tuning, but without losing detail in the mids. Imaging and soundstage is solid for an IEM, and they're comfortable enough for long periods of time, with the exception that the nozzle can be challenging for users with smaller ear canals. The other sets I often fall back on for immersive/single-player gaming is the Letshuoer S08. Up from there, the Hype 4; both are warm and fun, with the Hype 4 providing stronger bass performance, albeit typical Thieaudio "rounded" bass, and not as incisive as the S08's faster, more immediate planar slam. On the higher-priced midfi side, as mentioned above, the Hype 4 is one of my go-tos for immersive games, and the Top Pro is my competitive set of choice. It is like the Tea Pro, but with more controlled lower frequencies, and better detail and clarity. The Tea Pro is often recommended for gaming, the Top Pro improves on that tuning. It doesn't quite hit Volur-levels of "holographic" soundstage and imaging, but it is an exceptional set for its price. TL;DR: do not spend more than $500-$600 on a gaming IEM, and to be honest I wouldn't even recommend spending that much. I have dozens of IEMs in my collection, and my favorite gaming sets are on the budget side. Do I still use the Top Pro and Hype 4? Yes, but not as often as the EM6L and S08, and you could get by using the former for every use case -- I just like the S08 enough that I enjoy weaving it into my day-to-day as much as possible.

If you want an all ‘rounder, the Mangird Tea Pro is the best option in your price range. That said, even with dozens of IEMs, from budget to summit-fi sets, I run the EM6L 90% of the time. The Tea Pro is markedly better when it comes to media consumption, but the EM6L is no slouch there either, being somewhat mid-forward, but with excellent bass and treble and very strong imaging for a budget set. Whatever you choose, it’s best to avoid sets with emphasized lower frequencies as it will narrow staging and impact the clarity of your mids. Upper mids and treble are where most gaming cues live and is thus the most important area of the frequency range for gaming — hence why the EM6L is such a good option at its price. Other sets I’ve run for games that I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed; Thieaudio Hype 4, Crinicle Dusk, Xenns Top Pro, Meze Alba, Truthear Blue and Blue 2, Letshuoer S08 and S12 2024.

>But as soon as you get in range of the price of the Fiio FT1, I haven't heard an iem that can compete with it for under $500. Full disclaimer, I love and recommend the FT1s often. I agree they're one of the best budget headphones the hobby has ever seen and it's unlikely to be unseated for a very long time. I've posted this [image](https://imgur.com/a/bokeh-ft1-duGXiR5) a few times, because I've often had to back up the claim that I'm running the FT1 alongside much more expensive closed back sets, like the ZMF Bokeh, Focal Radiance and Azurys, etc. I've even started recommending it as a budget production/mixing headphone over options like the MDR-M1. The FT1 takes EQ surprisingly well and makes a great budget option for beginning engineers. But, I would argue the premise that IEMs provide better bang for your buck hasn't changed. The FT1 has subverted expectations where the headphone market is concerned, but it hasn't disrupted the budget IEM segment, not by a long shot. The Letshuoer S08, for instance, doesn't just compete with but outperforms the FT1; it presents the same neutral/slightly warm-tilted tuning, but with superior technical performance and much more overhead for EQ. The Simgot EM6L, not as popular now as its been outshined by recency bias, is still a phenomenal value for its price. And IEMs in a similar price range to the FT1, like the Meze Alba, Performer 5+2, or Ziigaat Odyssey, are more competent than the FT1 out of the box and align well with the "all 'rounder" tuning that has made the FT1 so popular. And under $500? The recent Xenns Top Pro is $499, and walks circles around the FT1, being one of the best midfi IEMs the market has seen in years and easily Xenns best release, competing with some of my kilobuck sets, both in tuning and technical performance. The FT1 is a fantastic budget headphone, without question. It has disrupted the budget market and is the easy recommendation for someone looking to spend $300 or less for an over ear set. However, I'd still recommend several IEMs over the FT1 if format didn't matter and someone was looking to get the best bang for their buck.

Other suggestions based on your frequency preference. Prices listed are for new, so should be cheaper used: Aful Explorer (really great for the $100ish price) Letshouer S08 ($89) I would recommend spending a tiny bit more and get: Zigaat Odyssey ($199) FatFreq Deuce ($239 - amazing balanced bass set) Since you love bass I think you'd be happiest with the Aful Explorer or FatFreq Deuce. These sets also have darker treble for treble sensitive listeners (like me). I'd say the Explorers have the warmest treble, but is very smooth. The Deuce has great balance between bass and treble, doesn't feel like the bass muddies the vocals. I have all the above sets and they are all great choices.

I think I'd recommend the Aful Explorer, Juzear Defiant, Artti T10 Pro (not the non pro) or Letshouer S08. Defiant might be too bright for metal, but it does depend on your tolerance/preference on the upper end. I'd go with the T10 Pro or S08 personally for mostly metal listening, though still good with other genres.

They're so good. Idk why I enjoy them so much. I even have the Letshuoer S08 and I use the castor more

S08. Not only that it should be exactly what you want, but a planar EQs very well (just in case). And the R4 has system-wide PEQ. 🔥

Hey man I know it has been a while but I was wondering if you could give me a comparison between this and the QOA Aviation? I saw your review about it and you had big praises for that one too. For reference I already got Letshuoer S08 which I enjoy but felt like the bass decay is too fast. Thanks!

Would add the S08 to suggest. Its also a planar like s12 pro but tuned warmly. I just got mine and very satisfied with it so far. The details and separation is there, the bass is punchy and overall its pretty laid back. The soundstage is not the biggest but I'm okay with it.

I do agree on not buying IEMs that I find "ugly". Tried the Letshuoer S08 before and the hidizs mp145 but man they were ugly. Also the mp145 was so huge. While it does fit me, I think I look goofy wearing those chonkers. Also the reason I have a lot of aful iems. They're pretty lol especially the magicone. I also prefer resin IEMs more than metal iems.

Upvoted. Another happy S08 user here.

This isn’t going to be a technical breakdown talking about graphs or fancy terminology. I don’t fully understand those yet (though I can piece some things together). Instead, this is just a random write-down and review from someone who enjoys music, and appreciates the experience, and wants to share my impressions that might help others starting out. It’s a long one, since I’ve gone through a LOT of IEMs in a short time. Firstly, I listen to all sorts of music. Classic, rap, rock, punk, pop but mostly vocal ballads and pop. I can probably also say I'm not "treble sensitive" (never tested whether I am or not) but as long as the IEM fit comfortably, didn't have a problem with fatigue. For reference, I’m using a JDS Atom 2 stack. Whether that matters much, you can decide for yourself. I started with a HyperX Cloud headset for gaming and music. Then I bought into the open-back headphone hype and got a Sennheiser HD6XX. Loved the sound, but big-head problems made them super uncomfortable after a while. That’s when I decided to try IEMs. My first real IEM was the Oriolus Finschi. Bought it on a whim, no research. Turned out great: comfy, clear vocals, decent instrument separation, and even worked well for tactical FPS games. I used them for years until the plastic wrapping on the shell started peeling. And so my budget IEM collection starts. Also if you're asking why buy so many, I just have a bad habit of making a collection. Now a quick review of these for anyone who also don't understand the graphs and want a general idea. Budget IEMs I’ve tried (ranked best to worst for me). **Kefine Delci AE:** These became my favorite as they had clear vocals and instruments with good separation and resolution, similar to the Oriolus Finschi but just a bit more lively. They sounded slightly brighter/livelier than neutral (I’ll put the Finschi and Hexa as the neutral-sounding baseline). These were fun and enjoyable—everything sounded clear and lively without being piercing. Even the bass was clear and sharp, not boomy, which I liked. **Letshouer S08:** This was my favorite until the Delci AE arrived. They were just pleasing to listen to—fun but also relaxing. Definitely a step down in clarity from the Delci AE, and probably less clear than the Simgot EA500LM, but still more enjoyable to listen to than the EA500LM. The bass wasn’t too much either; it was clear and sharp. It felt *fast*—like you could feel that it came out quickly and clearly. I’m guessing that’s the “speed of planar” people keep talking about? **Aful Explorer:** This one I didn’t like much stock, but once I applied EQ through Peace, they got significantly better. Stock, they were too dark and heavy sounding—everything was a bit muffled and muddy sounding. After EQ, they definitely improved. They were still dark sounding, but less so. Darker than the S08, but brightened enough for me to enjoy them. Vocals still felt clear, just not as clear as the Delci AE, maybe about the same as the S08. The Explorer had more of a boomy bass compared to the sharp, clear bass of the IEMs mentioned above. **Simgot EA500LM:** These had very clear vocals, which made me enjoy them for vocal ballads and pop tracks. But the background instruments weren’t as clear or well separated, and the soundstage seemed small and recessed compared to the vocals. This made vocals stand out but instruments felt like they all came from the same area, which wasn’t great for classical music. These probably had the most bass out of all the budget IEMs I got. It was boomy—the opposite of the sharp bass of the Delci AE and S08. With the Delci AE and S08 I could hear when the bass started and stopped, but here it just boomed and sort of rolled off instead of “stopping.” **Truthear Hexa:** Mediocre for me—nothing really stood out. It had clear vocals, instruments, and bass, but not to the point that it was clearer than the IEMs above. Very neutral and "boring". **Dunu Kima 2:** These had really good vocals, probably on par with the Delci AE. However, I found the background instruments very recessed, even more so than the EA500LM, making them unclear. The difference between forward, clear vocals and recessed background instruments felt weird to me. Otherwise, I think I would have really liked these—especially since this IEM comes with the best accessories by far. It’s like Dunu added the Kima 2 IEMs to their accessory set, instead of the other way around. **Letshouer S12 Pro:** Personally, I don’t understand the hype behind these. They sounded a bit unnatural and artificial—not relaxing or fun for me. They were bright, and I couldn’t EQ them properly. Toning down the brightness made them muddy. They were decent in clarity and had sharp, fast bass, but the overall tonality was just too bright and artificial for me. Still, I would pick these over the next two, just because they were clearer in both vocals and instruments which I value highly. **Kefine Klean:** These were okay, just average all around. Similar to the Truthear Hexa, but toned down evenly in all categories. Average clarity, separation, bass. Nothing wowed me, and they were a bit boring. Personally, I’d save up for the Delci AE or S08. **Simgot EW300:** Very slightly less clarity than the Klean, but a bit more bass and a livelier sound signature. If you listen to more rock or EDM, you would probably enjoy the EW300 more than the Klean. Just to quickly add: I also got the Moondrop Starfield 1 when they were popular back then, but they were heavy, uncomfortable, and mediocre. I didn’t use them for long and honestly can’t remember them well enough to describe beyond that. Currently, I’ve upgraded to mid-level IEMs and rotate between the Aful Explorer 5+2, Kiwi Ears Astral, Aether, and Ziigaat Odyssey. I found that the mid-level IEMs are definitely better than all the entry-level ones—I can clearly hear a difference when swapping back to the Delci AE or S08 in terms of clarity, resolution, and soundstage. However, the upgrade isn’t *huge*, so whether that’s worth the extra price depends on you. Maybe if people enjoyed reading this long post, I can do another crappy review for the mid-level IEMs I’ve collected.

The problem I have with the S08 Is the way that it fits. It has a very short nozzle that terminates into a rather large bulb before meeting the body of the IEM. In my instance this meant that I could not insert it very deep into my ear and this limited the range of ear tips I could use and impacted the sound. The Explorer for me is a S tier when it comes to fit and ergonomics and it also scales much better with volume. The S08 gets crowded and congested when you try and turn it up loud, probably due to the lack of air.

Letshuoer S08 for a warm relaxed tuning but if you can add an extra $20 you can get the Kiwi Ears Aether which is my favorite planar currently.

Letshuoer S08, a lot of people love it but it was not for me at all.

EW300 is the best all arounder under $100 imo but a planar like the Letshuoer S08 might be better for metal specifically.

One of my least favorite sets that I ever owned

Planar IEMs are nowhere near the level of over-the-ear planars, in my experience. If you want great sound - stick to hybrids and tribrids. If you are just curious about planars - the MP145 is probably the best of the bunch, but are quite large. Letshuoer s08 are amongst my favorites, but they are warm-tuned and intimate. The Kiwi Aether were a muddy disappointment to me. If you just want something "different" to get into - I highly recommend jumping into the all-BA iems rabbit hole.

I like the S08 a little more than Explorer (baring the wonky fit for my ears), mostly due to the Explorer's little extra treble presence. The S08 has no irritability to my ear and is the epitome of an easy listening set. Volume S is really good too but I want a little bit more forward vocal response. I actually like the OG Volume more because of this.

The S08 is an excellent budget planar but it's very "un-planar-like". That's exactly why I love it though. Ended up giving mine away in a drawing and I miss it from time to time.

IEMs are a bit of a rabbit hole, you've got an insane number of good options for cheap prices, so I'd say prepare to jump around a little. I'm a huge fan of Letshuoer S08's, they're planars with shockingly good bass. Cable is fragile but easy to replace and most people go with different eartips, I love my Penon Liqueur O's. Prices jump around a lot too but I got mine for $70.

The Penons are just the eartips, I just found they sealed better and gave me a little more bass because of it. The S08's are fairly flat and clear, likely a lot closer to DT770's than say my TMA-2's. Bass doesn't hit as hard as most headphones but better than most IEMs I can find. There's an extra option too, you can wear custom molded earplugs under headphones. A good set isn't cheap, mine were maybe $300 including the audiologist visit, but you can stick to throwing headphones on and off and it's certainly safer.

My recommendation: don’t buy off hype, don’t go off ChatGPT and instead watch a lot of reviews on budget iems and go from there. I bought a planar Letshuoer S08 via the hype here: HATED IT (Ish) I bought an Arrti T10 here via hype here: hated it. I bought KZ Casyor Bass: hated it Bought a KZ ZNA on a whim… been the best IEM for me lately. Perfect sub-bass, clear details and no treble fatigue… The moral is, don’t buy via graphs or hype. Do your own research via YouTube reviews, or IEM’s you like the look of. Most for the crinacle stuff honestly is shit in my opinion. Uncomfortable nozzles… etc.

Okay so I’m back here again haha… So… After the last recommendations I went and bought some Arrti T10’s and honestly… I don’t understand the hype… The bass sucked. Plain and simple. There wasn’t any real punch. Like yes, they’re very detailed and accurate and clear but like… where’s the bass? 🤷🏼‍♂️ I also bought some Castor Bass, just because I saw them recommended slot as a budget IEM, and honestly with the 3 & 4 up, these actually sound really really GOOD for metal. I’ve also some Letshuoer S08 on the way, and I’m worried that I’m going to hate them based on the Arrti… Therefore I guess I’m looking for the best of both worlds but at a good price. I already own the TRN White Tiger and honestly those are a step in the right direction. (Micro Planar and 2 DD) The Aful Explorer 5+2 are my wish list IEM atm. But I’m a broke uni student haha So has anyone got any recommendations that I may enjoy? The double DD Castor was pretty bang on, and I’m wondering whether the CCA Hydro could be what I want? I’ve also owned the KZ ZS 10 Pro X and I enjoyed those, just wanted a smidge more bass. I listen to a lot of sub-bass type genres like Wave Trap, DnB and Metal. So yeah give me your recommendations, especially lesser known IEM’s Ps: Simgot’s are also intriguing me… Thanks and happy listening dudes and dudesses

Thank you, that’s really good advice. I will actually add to this post: that I re-tried the Arrti t10 with balanced 4.4mm, a desktop DAC and some different tips and once I cranked it, I understand what the hypes about. Did the same with the S08 that arrived yesterday and my god, I think I get it. Think I’m a fan of the darker and more fun tuning.

If you need more bass switch 1&2 up. I found the castor to be okay for bass but nothing groundbreaking. Have heard the CCA Hydro slaps in that regard. Also the Letshuoer S08 slaps.

It’s actually a really good IEM. Out of all the IEM’s I own so far: Letshuoer S08 Artti T10 kZ ZS 10 Pro X KZ Castor Bass KZ EDX Pro I’ve kept the ZNA as my dailies. They just work perfectly for every genre I listen to. Metal, Liquid DnB, Wave, EDM, Progressive Metal, Hip-Hop,

You need a bit more power to drive these and they’ll really sing. I thought the same with my S08 but they slap with my DAP and giving it a bit more juice. Best IEM’s by far.

I wouldn’t trade the Letshuoer S08 for anything, but among the ones I’ve tried, the Letshuoer S15 and Simgot EA142 are probably the best planars. (Though technically, the EA142 is a planar + PZR.)

Tried most of them. Recently bought the aether, and love it. But my favorite is still the letshuoer SO8.

Dunu titan s2 or Dunu kima 2 is what I think suits your preferences. Titan s2 has good bass with textural qualities. Mids on kima 2 are more pronounced but smoother than s2. S2 has better dynamics overall and is more of a fun sound. Both have very good timbre but kima feels more natural. Hexa is more of a neutral mid range iem, it lets you observe the sound but not necessarily feel the bass defintion. I didnt really like s08, planar bass is more of a wave feeling motion and the tuning was too neutral. Nova lacks in the bass punch feel but everything is kind of smooth on it while having good vocals. Fudu is decent but the air roll off kind of is a dealbreaker for me. On a random side note you should look into kz zvx pro, it has very clean bass shelf without it feeling lacking. I know its in the budget but the tuning on it feels so technical for its price. It doesn't lack anything the staging, imaging, and layering all sound great. It blends musicality with good technicaity and I can say it rivals alot of $80 or under pairs.

I actually really like the S08. A planar that isn’t overly bright makes it pretty unique in the sub $100 bracket these days.

Letshuoer S08 maybe it graphs fairly close and it eqs well. Plus you get a little more detail it being a planar. Edit : Aful Explorer another good warm bassy set.

Letshuoer S08 w/good tips

I enjoy mine. I had the Artti T10 prior. It sounded pretty good, but didn't fit well. The S08 seems to be a much better fit for my ears. I also like that the S08 can be cranked up a bit without getting shrill, like the Aful Explorer.

What do you think of the Letshueor S08? It was in my radar between it and Simgot which I ended up taking Letshuoer. The clarity is amazing but Im curious how you would rate it

If you're able to stretch up to $90, the Letshuoer S08 is a warmer planar with decent bass. I have them and they have become by daily drivers powered with the apple dongle.

I have both. They have similar sound profile but if we talk about bass presentation the explorer is a 1 or 2 levels above the s08. Detail retrival and soundstage, s08 is a level above the explorer. Though I love the aful explorer, it's also a fact that it needs a shit ton of power, it's a high volume pair after all. The s08 is pretty efficient for a planar, I can have it extra loud with an apple dongle.

The aful explorer can pick out a lot of details, don't get me wrong. It's just easier to hear the details on the s08.

S08, definetely.

Yes! It's not picky with dacs, but it sounds better on higher output dacs. It sounds the best on my onix alpha xl1 with the fast filter.

Just get the aful 5+2. Skip both these iems. But if you really must, get the s08 planar instead. Easier to drive, different sounding enough from the klean, and you'll get a more audible upgrade in terms of techs at least.

Okay I'm no pro but have had my fair share of high quality music. My dad has a library in his house used for storing his 10k plus vinyls if that gives you any idea. In my experience I found the letshoer s08's to be fantastic for the price. Most people say they have a fair bit of base but I disagree. I found them to be a great jack of all trades. I can enjoy jazz, EDM, blue grass, heavy metal, Jpop and so many other genres with them. I'd say they're best for punk rock but everything sounds great on them. They are slightly harder to drive due to being planers but that's easy to fix with a USB DAC. And all of that comes at the price of just $80.

S08 gets my vote, comfort is great, accessories check, sound, slightly warm, easy listening for long session, like it more then Zetian Wu Heyday, and my S12 pro, I do like the Aether a bit more, but it is a fair bit more expensive, not as comfortable, and accessories could have been better.

I have the following planar sets listed from favorite to least favorite: Kiwi Ears Aether, Letshuorer S08, Letshuoer S12 pro, Tangzu Zetian wu HeyDay. Hybrid sets: Dunu BrainDance, Punch Audio Martilo, Simgot EW300

Maybe look into the Letshuoer S08. It’s a planar, so very fast and detailed, but it’s also exceptionally warm for a planar set.

If youre really sensitive to treble than buy Letshuoer S08, they're laid back sounding if you like that, yet have new gen driver compared to S12

The Truthear Nova have really big nozzles, if you want a good all around pick the Supermix 4 is probably the best in the < $200 range. For me the treble was a bit fatiguing, so if you're sensitive to that you might want to skip it and get something like the Aful Explorer. FWIW I really like the Letshuoer S08, they punch completely above their price point and right now they are on sale for 25% for ($75). I think at that price they are an absolute steal.

Another vote for Aful Explorer. I bought both S08 and Explorer on the spring sale (both under $70 after coins and such). To my ears, the Explorer's bass is more punchy than S08's while mids and highs are clear. The S08 is close but the fast decay planar bass was not as good as DD bass. Also, I love the cable and case on the Explorer. The fit in my ear is much better too. https://preview.redd.it/39ea7dbyg5we1.jpeg?width=2365&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dc2ea07a10335fc26c849cb043b7be2e3a5330d I'm good with my IEMs for now, but was considering the 5+2 too. For those who have it, what is the difference vs Explorer? What justifies almost 2x price?

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.

I have castor bass, wan'er 2, truthear zero, nicehck f1 pro, S08, and Aful Explorer. Of all of them, I love the Explorer the most and it's my current fave. The bass is awesome, mids and highs are clear. Fits very well. Cables and case are super high quality and just awesome to use. Go up a little bit and wait for sale. I got mine for ~$72 with coins in the recent spring sale.

Well, you sold me on this IEM. I have Explorer, S08, and F1 Pro (for the brighter end) but this seems to be a great contender under $100. I do like the mother of pearl look but that cable is a bit iffy. I have the brown one from Juzear Clear (bought it for the cable) so I'll be swapping it in. Actually, the included modular cable may grow on me.

It sounds good but I wouldn't say it is small

I'd say they're average so it really depends on the ear shape. Unfortunately that's hard to test without wearing them, and it's not as simple as size or weight. I don't have issues with them using the tangzu sancai tips